By IANS,
New Delhi : The statement of a 23-year-old rape victim was recorded here for the second time, after Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit complained about police “influence” during recording the first statement.
“A statement was recorded by a metropolitan magistrate,” a senior police officer told IANS.
“This is a legal procedure – that a victim would have to give the statement before a magistrate,” officer added.
The victim’s first statement was recorded by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Usha Chaturvedi Dec 21.
The official later had sent a letter to chief minister claiming that three senior police officers had prevented the video recording of the victim’s statement. It was also alleged that the police officers wanted the SDM to use a questionnaire they prepared.
Meanwhile Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar Tuesday strongly refuted the charges of police officers trying to pressurize Chaturvedi.
Speaking at a press conference here, he said that the SDM was briefed by police before recording the statement at her own request.