Uber Rape Case: Prosecution Completes Recording of Evidence

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) In just 17 days, the prosecution in the Uber rape case Saturday completed recording of evidence in a court here.

The prosecution, which had in its chargesheet cited 44 witnesses, examined 28 of them, including the woman victim who identified the accused cab driver, Shiv Kumar Yadav, as the one who raped her.

Dropping 16 witnesses saying they were not relevant, the prosecution closed the evidence with the recording of the statement of the investigating officer of the case, Delhi Police Sub Inspector Renu.

During the hearing, the investigating officer in her cross examination by Yadav's counsel, denied his suggestion that she has not probed the case properly and fairly.

Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja, who began the trial Jan 15, fixed Feb 3 for recording the statement of the accused driver.

"Special public prosecutor Atul Shrivastava states that all the relevant prosecution witnesses have been examined and no other witness is left to be examined," the judge said.

"Accordingly, prosecution evidence is closed. Put up the matter for Feb 3, 2015 for recording of statement of the accused," the judge added.

On Friday, the business head of Uber Asia confirmed that Yadav was working for the company and that he had diverted the vehicle from the actual route for which it had been booked by the woman.

According to police, the woman executive was allegedly raped by 32-year-old Yadav inside the car on the night of Dec 5, 2014.

The trial in the rape case is being conducted on a day-to-day basis.

The court had Jan 13 framed charges of rape and causing grievous bodily harm or endangering the life of a woman, kidnapping a woman, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against Yadav.