Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072757510400.htm

New Delhi

Five acquitted in Uzbek rape case

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Five persons who had been charged with criminally assaulting a woman from Uzbekistan seven years ago have been acquitted by a court here. The court doubted the testimony of the victim. Acquitting accused Sunil Puri, Vinod Kumar, Deepak, Ravi and Bilas, Additional Sessions Judge Narottam Kaushal said the victim did not support the case regarding the manner of occurrence, its nature and also the identity of the accused.

The court also noted that during cross-examination also the 27-year-old victim did not support the prosecution case and said in her deposition that none of the accused present in the court was involved in the incident.

The court also doubted the statement recorded by the police at the Shalimar Bagh police station in Delhi as she did not understand English. Her interpreter, an official of the Uzbekistan Embassy, did not appear in the court despite several opportunities.

The Uzbek woman was allegedly criminally assaulted in Shalimar Bagh on February 14, 2000.