More men, less women in neighbouring states reason behind increasing rapes in Delhi?

2013-05-23 13:12:00

New Delhi: Even as the fast-track court is hearing the December 16 Delhi gangrape case, crime against women do not seem to stop in the national capital and in its neighbouring states. If we analyse the sex ratio in neighbouring state of Haryana, the statistics are very alarming. Skewed sex ration can be one of the many reasons behind the increasing incidents of rape and other crime against women.

Tens of thousands of girls disappear in India every year. They are sold into prostitution, domestic slavery and, increasingly into marriage in the northern states of India where the sex ratio between men and women has been skewed by the illegal - but widespread - practice of aborting girl foetuses, reported BBC.

Gurgaon - the most progressive city of Haryana - has figured among districts having lowest sex ratio even as overall sex ratio of Haryana has increased to 879.

According to data rolled out by Haryana Census department for Census 2011, lowest sex ratio was reported in Gurgaon at 854, Sonipat at 856 and Jhajjar at 862.

Sex ratio dipped in Mahendragarh by 23 points from 918 as per 2001 census to 895 and in Rewari by one point to 898.

The highest sex ratio was observed in Mewat at 907, followed by Fatehabad at 902, as per data.

Overall sex ratio of Haryana jumped from 861 in 2001 to 879 as per the census 2011.

Sex ratio in rural areas also increased to 882 from 866 and in urban areas from 847 to 873.

The growth of Haryana's population during census 2011 was more than that of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttarakhand.

Haryana's population grew by 19.9 per cent to 2.53 crore during census 2011 as against population during census 2001.

The decadal growth of neighbouring states including Punjab was at 13.9 per cent, Himachal Pradesh at 12.9 per cent, UT Chandigarh at 17.2 per cent, Uttarakhand at 18.8 per cent, Rajasthan at 21.3 and Uttar Pradesh at 20.2 per cent.

Growth of population in rural areas was 9.8 per cent while in urban areas was 44.6 per cent, as per the data.

Density of population of Haryana state has increased from 478 during 2001 to 573 in 2011.

The literacy rate of the state has improved from 67.9 per cent in 2001 to 75.6 per cent in 2011.

In rural areas, literacy rate increased from 63.2 per cent to 71.4 per cent and in urban areas from 79.2 per cent to 83.1 per cent, according to data.

Maximum literacy has been recorded in Gurgaon district at 84.7 per cent, Panchkula at 81.9 and Ambala at 81.7.

Minimum literacy percentage was recorded in Mewat at 54.1, Fatehabad at 67.9 and Sirsa at 68.8.

Female literacy registered an overall increase of 10.2 per cent from 55.7 to 65.9 in 2011.

The percentage share of scheduled caste in Haryana has increased to 20.2 per cent as compared to 19.3 per cent in Census 2001.

There are no official statistics on how many girls are sold into marriage in the northern states of India, but activists believe the number is on the rise, fuelled both by demand for women in the relatively wealthy north, and poverty in other parts of India.

"Every house in northern India is feeling the pressure, in every house there are young men who cannot find women and who are frustrated," BBC quoted social activist Rishi Kant as saying. Rishikant's organization Shakti Vahini (or Power Brigade) works closely with the police to rescue victims. (with PTI inputs)

IPL spot-fixing: Three more Indian players of franchise other than Rajasthan Royals under scrutiny

2013-05-23 06:37:00

New Delhi: While the cricket fraternity is licking its wounds inflicted by three Indian players-Sreesanth, Chandila, and Chavan- as they allegedly spot-fixed matches, the Delhi Police has three other players under the scanner. However, the police is keeping its card closed and is closely monitoring their activities. According to Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar, all the three players are Indian and are associated with a particular franchise other than Rajasthan.

"The contours of our probe are likely to widen soon and we are hoping to crack a fresh syndicate of bookies. We are looking at other teams and other players as well, and specifically at three Indian players from one team," Kumar told Indian Express on Wednesday.

The arrest of cricketers S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan for spot fixing in the Indian Premier League seems to have opened up the Pandora’s Box for the gentleman’s game. A number of bookies have been arrested and the murky flow of cash stretches from Dubai to Karachi. After arresting Vindu Dara Singh, it is learnt that the nexus between betting and hawala will further be explored.

Income tax officials have got in touch with Delhi police investigators and have begun ‘tax evasion and suspected hawala dealings’ probe in order to widen their net. The department will question all those who have been arrested by Delhi and Mumbai police.

I-T department is working closely with other government agencies to go through tax returns and other transactions to detect illegal income. They are joined by the Enforcement Directorate, who will explore the long chain of money laundering.

The financial investigation agency had investigated spot-fixing allegations after a news channel claimed it had found five players indulging in unethical activities after a sting operation. Using information from last year and fresh details, the agency will try to establish the secret route of unreported cash.

KBC to the rescue! Acid attack victim Sonali wins jackpot

2013-05-23 02:30:00

New Delhi: 'We lost everything... yet the criminals who threw acid at me walk free'. This is the agonizing cry of 28 –year-old Sonali Mukherjee whose entire life was shattered by a vicious acid attack 11 years ago by a spurned suitor and his friends.

Sonali who suffered 95% burns as a result of the attack was left with no ears, no eyelids and no scalp.

Originally from Dhanbad, Sonali had to move to Delhi for her treatment where she and her family stays now.

The price they have had to pay is staggering. All their land and jewellery had to be sold. There was no state help for her treatment. After nearly 26 ooperations doctors are still struggling to give her something of a normal face.

It was then that Sonali decided to compete in KBC to raise money for her cure and increase awareness of the plight of victims of acid attack. The jackpot of 25 lakhs she won helped her family pay for her 27th surgery.

What is most agonizing is the fact that the perpetrators are roaming free as they are all out on bail.

UPA-II\'s anniversary today, BJP flays it for betraying people

2013-05-22 19:36:00

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday sought to paint a dismal picture of UPA-II holding it responsible for the economic gloom and failure to give the country leadership while accusing it of diminishing the role of the Prime Minister.

On the fourth anniversary of United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-II, BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley said they would limit their critique to the second innings of the Congress-led coalition which has witnessed nine ‘mindboggling’ scams that hit the common man the hardest.

"UPA-II has seen more corruption than UPA-I. There have been mindboggling scams which were not seen by any previous government," Swaraj told a press conference in the national capital with Jaitley.

Noting that coalition politics was the order of the day, Swaraj said such governments require ‘special leadership qualities’.

"Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister but neither a leader of the country nor the leader of his own party. Singh's colleagues sit with him in the Cabinet and look towards the UPA Chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) for directions. Such split leadership is the biggest failure of UPA," she said.

Echoing Swaraj, Jaitley said, "UPA has devalued the Prime Minister's post. Singh's Cabinet colleagues look towards UPA chairperson for policy directions and somewhere else for future leadership."

At the same time, the BJP leaders parried questions on Narendra Modi's projection as NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate by a section within the party.

"Whether we will have a (Prime Ministerial) face or not and if we decide to have a face, who it will be, these issues will be decided by the BJP Parliamentary Board in consultation with NDA partners," Swaraj said.

Jaitley said UPA's fourth anniversary was being celebrated in an environment of "gloom, pessimism, cynicism and negativism".

(with PTI inputs)

Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit charged for misusing public funds in ads

2013-05-22 18:48:00

New Delhi: The Delhi Lokayukta on Wednesday indicted chief minister Sheila Dikshit for misusing government funds for carrying out an ad campaign. The Lokayukta further recommended recovery of Rs 11 crore.

This comes a week after the Lokayukta on May 15 issued show cause notices to Dikshit, Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami and six other MLAs. It had objected to putting up of hoardings and banners allegedly in violation of law.

Dikshit and others were given time till May 22 to submit their replies. The Lokayukta had, however, observed that enforcement agencies were reluctant to act against the “powerful and mighty”.

The notices by Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin had been issued in response to a petition filed by S K Saxena seeking action against public functionaries who put up hoardings and posters without taking permission from concerned authorities.

Fourteen current and former municipal councillors were also issued notices by the anti-graft body for erecting posters and banners in violation of the law.

Jessica Lal murder case: Delhi High Court to decide on hostile witnesses today

2013-05-22 11:12:00

New Delhi: The Jessica Lal murder case could take a new direction today as the Delhi High Court is expected to deliver its verdict on whether or not to prosecute Bollywood actor Shayan Munshi and 18 others on charges of perjury. These witnesses had turned hostile during their deposition in model Jessica Lal murder trial.

Two years after the court reserved its order on May 4 2011, a division bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice GP Mittal are likely to decide the case on Shayan Munshi and 18 others.

It had reserved its order after hearing arguments on behalf of police and the witnesses who had turned hostile. Lal was shot dead in April 1999 by Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Congress leader Venod Sharma after she refused to serve a drink to him at a late night party at socialite Bina Ramani's restaurant Tamarind Court in South Delhi. The High Court, which reversed trial court's verdict on December 18, 2006, awarded life imprisonment to Manu Sharma.

Munshi, who had lodged the FIR in the case, had pleaded to the court not to prosecute him saying, "He cannot be termed hostile as even the apex court had used part of his deposition in convicting the accused." Munshi, the complainant in the case, had disowned the complaint during the trial, saying he did not know Hindi. The prosecution had urged the high court to refer 19 out of the 31 hostile witnesses, including Munshi, to the magisterial court for their trial on charges of perjury.

It had pointed out that of the total 31 witnesses, only 19 were available for trial as three had died while the court had itself discharged 10 of them earlier on the ground that there was no major deviation between their statements to the police and later to the court. The 19 persons, whose fate will be decided tomorrow for turning hostile include socialite Andleeb Sehgal, ballistic experts Roop Singh and Prem Sagar, electrician Shiv Shankar Dass and eyewitness Jagannath Jha. The apex court, while upholding the high court's ruling in the case in April 2010, had also endorsed its findings on the issue of perjury.

Following is the chronology of events in the Jessica Lal murder case:

April 29-30 1999: Jessica shot at a party in Qutub Colonnade restaurant in south Delhi.

April 30, 1999: Doctors at Apollo Hospital declare Jessica brought dead.

May 2, 1999: Delhi Police recover Tata Safari car belonging to Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Congress leader Venod Sharma, from Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

May 6, 1999: Manu surrenders before a court in Chandigarh. Subsequently, ten other co-accused including Vikas Yadav, son of UP politician D.P. Yadav, arrested.

August 3, 1999: Charge sheet filed against accused for killing Jessica under various sections of IPC.

January 31, 2000: Magistrate court commits the case to a Sessions court for trial.

November 23, 2000: Sessions court frames charges for murder against nine persons and discharges one accused Amit Jhingan while declaring Ravinder Sudan alias Titu as proclaimed offender.

May 2, 2001: Court starts recording of prosecution evidence. Deepak Bhojwani, an eye witness deposes before the trial court.

May 3, 2001: Complainant and eye witness Shyan Munshi turns hostile and fails to identify Manu in court.

May 5, 2001: Another eye witness Shiv Das, an electrician at Qutub Colonnade, turns hostile.

May 16, 2001: Third key witness Karan Rajput turns hostile.

July 6, 2001: Malini Ramani, eyewitness, identifies Manu.

October 12, 2001: Socialite Bina Ramani, owner of the restaurant and bar, identifies Manu.

October 17, 2001: George Mailhot, Ramani’s Canadian husband, deposes and identifies Manu.

July 20, 2004: Surinder Sharma, controversial investigating officer in the case, deposes after returning from U.N. assignment in Kosovo.

February 21, 2006: Trial court acquits all nine accused due to lack of evidence against them.

March 13, 2006: Delhi Police file appeal in the high court.

October 3, 2006: High Court begins hearing on appeal on a day-to-day basis.

November 29, 2006: High Court reserves its verdict.

December 18, 2006: High Court convicts Manu, Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony and acquits Aloke Khanna, Vikas Gill, Harvinder Singh Chopra, Raja Chopra, Shyam Sunder Sharma and Yograj Singh.

December 20, 2006: High Court awards life imprisonment term to main convict Manu Sharma with a fine of Rs. 50,000 and also sentences co-convicts Amardeep Singh Gill and Vikas Yadav to four years’ prison term with Rs. 3,000 fine each.

February 2, 2007: Manu Sharma appeals in the Supreme Court.

March 8, 2007: Supreme Court admits Manu Sharma’s appeal.

November 27, 2007: Supreme Court rejects Manu Sharma’s bail plea.

May 12, 2008: Supreme Court again rejects Manu Sharma’s bail plea.

January 19, 2010: Supreme Court commences hearing on Manu Sharma’s appeal.

February 18, 2010: Supreme Court reserves verdict on the appeal of Manu Sharma.

April 19, 2010: Supreme Court upholds conviction and life term of Manu.

(with PTI inputs)

Sreesanth could spend rest of his life in jail if proven guilty under Sec 409 of IPC

2013-05-22 08:16:00

New Delhi: Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan Royals players may get life sentence if they are held guilty on charges of spot-fixing. Delhi Police charged them under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal breach of trust, and if found guilty they may face life term.

The police have widened the net of their investigation into the spot-fixing scandal involving three cricketers including S. Sreesanth.

On Tuesday, the police informed the court that it was just investigating the spot-fixing scandal rather they are also looking into the possibility of match fixing in the IPL.

According to police, the arrested bookies have revealed the modus operandi of fixing which is done at three levels:

1. On the result of match

2. On a session of the match

3. Fixing spots

The public prosecutor told the court that "it is an extremely organised racket. Sreesanth’s close aide Jiju Janardhan paid money directly through the hawala route. The bookie racket is spread all over India." He added that "several new names" have cropped up in the case and these sensitive details will be submitted to the court in a sealed cover on Wednesday.

Apart from this, the Enforcement Directorate too was set to charge the three cricketers and arrested bookies under money laundering laws. They may also be charged with violating the "exclusive tripartite agreement" signed between BCCI, Rajasthan Royals and the player. The agreement has a specific anti-corruption clause.

The trio were charged with criminal breach of trust after the Rajasthan Royals alleged the players had "fundamentally eroded the sanctity of the game" and had broken the team's trust.

Section 420 carries a maximum sentence of seven years' jail, while Section 409 provides for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mumbai Police arrested late actor Dara Singh’s son Vindu Dara Singh for his alleged links with bookies.

Vindu was picked from his house for questioning by the Crime Branch, and was later arrested.

Initial reports suggest arrested bookie Ramesh Vyas spilled Singh's name. Vyas' call records, reportedly, confirm the two were in constant touch. Vindu, it is believed, provided logistical support to bookies Jupiter and Pawan. He was also allegedly involved in gambling and betting.

This is the first Bollywood casualty in the spot fixing saga, and many more names are expected to come up during the course of investigation.

What was Narendra Modi\'s hidden agenda behind meeting top leaders in Delhi?

2013-05-22 04:39:00

New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spent the entire day with top leaders whose support he would require at the time the party decides its prime ministerial candidate. He was in the national capital to attend his first meeting of the BJP's parliamentary board after being re-inducted in the central team.

According to political analysts, winning the support of top leaders of his party will be essential for the Gujarat chief minister to be decalred as the PM candidate.

Soon after his arrival in Delhi, the Gujarat Chief Minister headed straight to LK Advani's residence and spent some 40 minutes with him and later termed the meeting as "wonderful".

"In Delhi today. Had a wonderful meeting with Advaniji on arrival at Delhi," Modi said on Twitter after meeting Advani.

Modi also met former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at his residence and sought his blessings. Vajpayee is indisposed for sometime now.

He then headed towards former BJP President Nitin Gadkari's residence and spent about an hour with him. Gadkari is considered close to the RSS and his support is crucial to Modi.

While these meetings were scheduled before BJP Parliamentary Board meetings, he met party president Rajnath Singh soon after the meeting and had lunch with him.

The Gujarat Chief Minister also spent almost two hours with BJP's General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal, who is also considered close to the RSS.

The meeting with top BJP leaders like LK Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee assume significance as Modi is reportedly pushing the party hard to declare him as BJP's prime ministerial candidate ahead of the general elections.

Modi asked his party leaders to "effectively use the failures of the UPA government" and also project the successes of the BJP-led governments in various states and achievements during the previous NDA regime.

"He suggested that the failures of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government should be discussed in details in the national executive, and then should be brought to the attention of people of India," BJP leader Ananth Kumar told reporters after the meet.

He also called for making optimum use of media, including social media, to put forth the party's views before the public in an aggressive way, they said.

"Modi suggested how social media can be used as a tool to reach out to the young people," Kumar added.

This was the first time that Modi attended the BJP Parliamentary Board, the top decision-making body of the party, after he was nominated as its member by party president Rajnath Singh recently.

Modi's re-induction in the BJP parliamentary board was seen as an indication towards his claim for the top post. His close aide Amit Shah has also been made election in-charge of Uttar Pradesh for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Woman helps husband to gang-rape pregnant sister-in-law in Delhi

2013-05-22 03:56:00

New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a pregnant woman was drugged and gang-raped by her brother-in-law and his friends in Delhi’s Shalimar Garden area. According to the police, victim has indicted her sister-in-law in the case saying that it was her who gave him edibles laced with sedatives.

The victim recorded the statement with the police. She said that she was confined in a room after being administered the drug and was raped for two days. Her brother-in-law also made a video clip of the crime and threatened to make it public if the woman lodged a complaint against him.

The assailants dumped the woman near Japanese Park in New Delhi where a passerby noticed the woman in deplorable condition. She helped her to mount on a rickshaw and told her to go to her house. However, the alert rickshaw puller called up police.

Delhi Police arrived at the scene and helped the victim to reach the hospital. It has registered a case but has not made any arrest so far.

Aarushi-Hemraj murder case: Is CBI lying; no dummy test was conducted at crime scene?

2013-05-22 05:49:00

Ghaziabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case, did not carry out any dummy test at Rajesh Talwar's Jalvayu Vihar residence where the incident took place five years ago, a special court In Ghaziabad was told on Tuesday.

In his deposition as prosecution witness, CBI investigator AGL Kaul, who led the second probe team in connection with the sensational murders, had claimed that he carried out such a test in 2010 by putting a dummy in a sheet and dragging it to the roof with the help of two people.

The purpose of this exercise purportedly carried out in the presence of forensic experts was to ascertain whether Aarushi's parents were capable of dragging a subconscious Hemraj to terrace where he was allegedly killed by them, he had claimed.

While recording his statement under Section 313 of the CrPC before Special CBI Judge Shyam Lal, Dentist Rajesh Talwar said no such test was conducted by the CBI.

Sources in the know of proceedings claimed that Talwars had left their residence of Jalvayu Vihar--the crime scene--immediately after the incident and have not been living there since so there was no question of test being conducted there.

The sources said CBI had not presented any evidence on record to show that such a test was conducted and the only proof presented by CBI is a statement of its investigator AGL Kaul and Forensic Expert Rajinder Singh.

In his statement before the court, Kaul had claimed that a dummy test was conducted for two reasons-to understand whether two persons of normal built can wrap an adult's body and take it upstairs to the terrace and to ascertain pattern of bloodstains when such an act takes place.

PHOTOS: Rare pictures of 1984 anti-Sikh riots

2012-11-04 01:30:00

New Delhi: The Sikh community on Saturday organised a protest to mark the 28th anniversary of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The protesters carried a photo exhibition named 'Forgotten Citizens 1984' at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, by means of which they showcased the pain of Sikh community.

Did Delhi gang-rape victim die before being taken to Singapore?

2013-05-22 02:22:00

New Delhi: Four accused of the December 16 gang-rape case told a special court on Tuesday that the victim died before being taken to Singapore for treatment and she was not assaulted by iron rods. The rods were planted later after the death of the girl, they alleged.

The counsel for the accused -- Vinay, Mukesh, Pawan and Akshay Thakur -- alleged that the SHO of Vasant Vihar police station had not taken the opinion of doctors on the weapons of offence during the lifetime of the victim, "despite various opportunities" because the iron rods were never used in the offence.

Refuting the allegations, the SHO told Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna, "It is wrong to suggest that the girl expired before being sent to Singapore or that due to the pressure her body was sent to Singapore."

"It is also wrong to suggest that I had not taken the opinion of the doctors during the lifetime of the victim, despite various opportunities, as the said weapons were allegedly not with us at that time or that the same were planted later after the death of the girl," the SHO said.

Deposing as a 78th prosecution witness, the SHO said the the two iron rods were not taken to Singapore where the doctors conducted the postmortem. Hence, the opinion of doctors at Singapore could not be taken on the injuries inflicted by the iron rods, the SHO testified.

"When I reached Singapore, the postmortem had already been conducted and the body was transported to the airport," he said.

The four accused are facing trial in the gang-rape and murder of the 23-year-old paramedical student and attack on her male friend on the night of December 16. The girl died of her injuries on December 29, 2012 at a Singapore hospital.

The counsel for one of the accused also alleged Vinay Sharma was not present in the bus when the alleged gang-rape took place as he had gone to a musical function. Meanwhile, other accused Akshay Thakur claimed he was not involved and has been falsely implicated.

During the trial, accused Pawan Gupta was on Tuesday taken to the dispensary for check-up. On Monday also, he was rushed to the dispensary after he suffered bleeding from nose.

Meanwhile, the judge directed the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital to submit a medical report about the condition of Vinay. He wanted to know whether the accused would be able to attend the court or not.

The judge sought a "detailed report by tomorrow" on the health of Vinay who has been hospitalized for the past 20 days. "The report should detail when the accused can be discharged and whether he is fit to attend court or not," the court said.

Sharma's presence is very important at this stage as the examination of the investigating officer of the case cannot be held in his absence. Of the 80 prosecution witnesses, only the IO remains to depose before the court.

Out of six accused, Ram Singh was found hanging in his prison cell in Tihar on March 11 and consequently, the trial against him was abated. The juvenile accused in the case is facing a separate trial before a Juvenile Justice Board.

Man held for planting bombs near house of Delhi gang-rape accused

2013-01-01 11:55:00

New Delhi: A 37-year-old man was arrested here for allegedly planting two 'bombs' made of simple explosive material used for making crackers near the house of one of the accused in the gangrape of a 23-year-old girl, who succumbed .

Rajesh was arrested from Ravi Dass colony in south Delhi's RK Puram on Monday evening when he was trying to flee from the spot after planting the explosives. His two friends managed to flee from the spot.

They were seen loitering in the area by locals in a suspicious manner and had allegedly threatened to blow up the house of one of the accused in the gangrape case Ram Singh. One of the accused was overpowered by the crowd but two managed to escape and police was informed.

New Year brings shivers to Delhi at 4 degree Celsius

2013-01-01 12:26:00

New Delhi: Delhi ushered in the New Year with bone chilling cold and dense fog on Tuesday with mercury plummeting to the season's lowest of four degree Celsius, prompting people to wrap themselves up in more woollens.

Tuesday’s minimum was three degree Celsius below normal and down from the previous day's minimum of 5.5 degrees, which was the previous lowest for the season. Yesterday, the maximum was recorded at 13.3 degree Celsius, making it the coldest day.

Mercury at the lowest and icy winds made the city colder than usual in the morning hours with Weatherman predicting similar weather conditions for tomorrow.

Dense fog also enveloped the city in the morning hours affecting road and rail traffic as well as operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The visibility dropped to near zero level.

The previous two New Years were a 'warm' affair for the capital as minimum temperature were at above normal levels.

Last year, the minimum was 8.4 degree Celsius, one degree above normal and in 2011, it was 11 degrees, four degrees above normal.

"It is an icy feeling because of the wind. But it is nice," said Sharmista Mathur, an executive with a accounting firm.

Over 550 revellers challaned for drunken driving

2013-01-01 13:38:00

New Delhi: Over 550 revellers were challaned for driving under the influence of alcohol in the capital as they rang in 2013.

A total of 574 people were prosecuted for drunken driving in the city during the New Year celebrations, an increase from last year's 504. In 2011, the figure was 388 while 188 were challaned in 2010.

A total of 844 challans were issued during the New Year drive as against last year's figure of 624.

"Amongst vehicles, 294 were cars driven by drunk drivers, 232 two wheelers, 4 HTVs, 23 LGVs, 11 auto-rickshaws and 10 others," Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said.

He said a total of 167 vehicles were impounded as nobody was there with valid licence to hand over the vehicle.

"New year celebrations saw traffic police putting about 100 teams to check drunken driving. All those who were caught for drunken driving will have to present themselves before courts.

"Maybe their New year festivities end in court with real possibility of getting jail terms, apart from losing licence and getting fine for what they did. One has to ask is this the way to celebrate new year," he said.

South Range had the maximum prosecutions for drunken driving with 221 followed by West (126), North (125), East (73) and Central (44).

Parents of rape accused isolate themselves

2013-01-01 13:45:00

New Delhi: The death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim has not only devastated her family but it has also left the parents of the accused grief-struck.

Fearing angry repercussions, a security personnel was deployed outside Saryug Singh’s (father of Akshay Thakur) house on Monday evening. According to him, Singh has locked himself along with his wife inside the house and he hears frequent wails from inside the house since the girl’s death.

Akshay Thakur, who is an accused in the gang-rape, was nabbed from his native place in

Lahankarma, by a joint team of Bihar Police and Delhi Police.

Meanwhile, the accused father said that his son’s deed has ashamed him and his head hangs in shame.

Akshay Thakur is the son of a marginal farmer and studied in a government school till matriculation. Later he went to Chandigarh to work in a brew factory. He returned to Delhi only a year ago.

According to a neighbour, the incident has irked the entire village and they want death penalty for the culprits involved in the barbaric incident.

Meanwhile, different students’ organisations observed bandh in the Nabinagar, block headquarter under which Lahankarma village is located about 125 km from Patna, over the death of the girl.

Delhi gang-rape: 2 English dailies sued for publishing ‘revealing’ content

2013-01-01 14:24:00

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Monday registered a case against two English dailies for publishing material, which could lead to the identification of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim who died two days ago.

The case was registered at Vasant Vihar police station under section 228-A (punishment for printing or publishing the name or any matter which may make known the identity of any person against whom rape is committed) of Indian Penal Code.

Sources said the case has been registered against the Editor, Publisher, Printer, correspondents and photographers concerned of the two dailies.

The offence carries a punishment of up to two years imprisonment besides a fine.

The girl was gang-raped and brutally assaulted allegedly by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16. She died in a Singapore hospital.

Childless couple abduct neighbour’s infant, get arrested

2013-01-01 14:25:00

New Delhi: A childless couple have been arrested for kidnapping their neighbour's five-month-old infant, police said on Tuesday.

Satrudhan and Sangeeta Paswan were arrested for kidnapping the infant from Badarpur in southeast Delhi in September.

The arrest came on a complaint filed by one Pawan that Sangeeta had kidnapped their son in September.

He said his wife and Sangeeta went to a market in September along with the infant. After a few minutes, Sangeeta told Pawan's wife that she was going home and that she can take the infant with her. But when the woman came to her house, she was shocked to see both the infant and Sangeeta missing there.

Police fast-tracked investigation and arrested Sangeeta from Sitamarhi district in Bihar. They also managed to rescue the infant.

Satrudhan surrendered in a police station here on Saturday, they said. "During their sustained interrogation, the couple disclosed that they had married 10 years ago but had no kids. They had planned to reside as tenant in Badarpur area and kidnap a child. They become familiar with Pawan and his family members," a senior police official said.

Both the accused have been produced before a court in Saket.

Delhi gang-rape: Spl Public Prosecutor not to speak to media

2013-01-01 14:34:00

New Delhi: Lawyer Dayan Krishnan, who has been appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case of gangrape of a 23-year-old student, on Tuesday made it clear that he would not speak to the media on the case.

"As the Public Prosecutor, it is my duty to ensure strict adherence to due process in accordance with the highest standards of rule of law to ensure justice," he said in a statement.

"I am grateful to all of you for your continuing support," he said, adding on his appointment as Special Public Prosecutor, he has received various requests from media, both print and electronic, for clarifications and comments.

Krishnan, who has volunteered to be the prosecutor for free of cost, said while sharing the concern of all the citizens of the nation at this "great tragedy", he feels that making any comment of any kind at this stage would be detrimental to the case.

Police plan to file the charge sheet in the case on Thursday.

The girl was gangraped and brutally assaulted on a moving bus on December 21 in south Delhi and died last Saturday in a Singapore hospital.

Entries invited for 60th National film awards in India

2013-01-01 14:41:00

New Delhi: Initiating the process for the prestigious 60th National Film Awards, the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) has invited filmmakers to submit their entries for the coveted honour.

Officials said that entries for the awards for the year 2012 were invited in Feature Films, Non-feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema sections.

Films which have received Censor Certification and books, articles and reviews on Cinema published between January 1 and December 31, 2012, are eligible to participate

Police\'s \'extortion\', grilling leads teenage eve-teaser to commit suicide

2013-01-01 15:55:00

New Delhi:In what is being seen as another instance of police’s manipulation of law, an alleged eve-teaser committed suicide after the Delhi Police ‘harassed’ him and two more accused, and extorted Rs. 10,000 from the deceased’s family. It is learnt that even the second of the three accused attempted unsuccessful suicide after police’s interrogation.

The Indian Express reported that the family of 19-year-old Chandrakant Singh, who allegedly hanged himself on December 25, has said the police threatened and humiliated him, sending him into an acute depression. They have also alleged that a police officer extorted Rs 10,000 from them.

The families of Singh and his friend Sonu Vaidhya live in New Manglapuri in south Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri area. Vaidhya allegedly consumed poison a day after Singh hanged himself, but survived.

According to police, the girls lodged an FIR under section 509 IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) against the three accused at Mehrauli police station on December 24. The third accused was identified as Mohit, also of Fatehpur Beri, police said.

All three youths are students of an industrial training institute (ITI) in Nizamuddin. The girls who accused them of harassment study at an institute near Siri Fort. The incident allegedly took place on a bus on route number 413, which all of them took regularly. The men “teased and threatened” the women “all the time”, the complaint said.

“On December 24, we received a PCR call that some people were beating up a youth after he was caught harassing a girl in a moving DTC bus. A police team reached the spot and learnt that the youth was beaten up by the girl’s brothers and his friends. They were brought to the police station where the girl formally lodged an FIR accusing the youth and his two friends for harassing her. He was arrested and released subsequently. The next day, he committed suicide,” said a senior police officer told Indian Express.

Delhi: Youth kills self after molestation charges; friend attempts suicide too

2013-01-01 16:19:00

New Delhi: A 19-year-old boy allegedly killed himself after he and his friend were arrested for harassing two women on a bus stop in south Delhi. The deceased has been identified as Chandrakant Singh, who allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the fan. The friend, Sonu Vaidhya who was held along with Singh also attempted killing himself by consuming poison and is said to be critical. Meanwhile, the third accused is on the run.

The families have claimed that police harassment put the youths into depression and they committed suicide. Police however, have denied that it is a suicide and said that Singh had taken an overdose of medicines for his ailment.

It was learnt that they have been harassing the two women since October, who lodged an FIR under section 509 IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) against the three accused at Mehrauli police station on December 24.

Chandrakant and his friend were nabbed the next day but freed on bail the same night.

According to police, all of them are students at a training institute. The three accused were preparing for an electrician training course at the institute. The victims as well as the accused used to board the same DTC bus on route number 413.

Accused tried to mow down Delhi gang-rape victim: Chargesheet

2013-01-01 17:10:00

New Delhi: The Delhi Police is ready with the chargesheet in the 23-year-old medical student gang-rape case. According to media reports, the chargesheet says the accused tried to mow down the victim after critically injuring her in the brutal gang-rape.

All six are to be charged under nine sections of IPC.

IPC Sections 34, 201, 302, 307, 377, 395, 396, 394 are slapped on the accused. The charges include kidnapping, loot, gang-rape& murder. The police will coraborate charges with foresnsic and DNA reports. The 950-page chargesheet is to be filed on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Dayan Krishnan, who has been appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case of gangrape of a 23-year-old student, said in a atatement, "As the Public Prosecutor, it is my duty to ensure strict adherence to due process in accordance with the highest standards of rule of law to ensure justice."

Women's safety: STF to look into functioning of Delhi Police

2013-01-01 18:00:00

New Delhi: The Central government has constituted a Special Task Force (STF) headed by Union Home Secretary to look into the safety issues of women in the national capital and review the functioning of Delhi Police on a fortnightly basis, a statement issued by Union Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday.

Under the chairmanship of Union Home Secretary, the STF will have the Chief Secretary, Delhi; Commissioner of Police, Delhi; Special CP (Traffic), Delhi Police; Special CP (Law & Order), Delhi Police; Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women; Chairperson, NDMC; Transport Commissioner, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD); Commissioner, East Delhi Municipal Corporation; Commissioner, North Delhi Municipal Corporation; Commissioner, South Delhi Municipal Corporation; Excise Commissioner, GNCTD and Joint Secretary (UT) as members.

The STF will make use of their members, who is suited best for a particular case. It will also take into consideration the suggestions made by MPs during the debate on the issue.

The STF will continuously review action taken by the Delhi Police and the Delhi government.

Delhi gang-rape: Shashi Tharoor lands in the eye of the storm again

2013-01-01 18:38:00

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor has landed himself in a new controversy to the much debated topic of the Delhi gang-rape. He has gone on to tweet that if the parents do not object, the name and identity of the victim ought to be revealed in order for her to be honored across the nation.

"Unless her parents object, she should be honoured and the revised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human being with a name, not just a symbol," he tweets.

"Wondering what interest is served by continuing anonymity of the Delhi gang-rape victim. Why not name and honour her as a real person with own identity?" said Tharoor on social networking site.

The 23-year-old para medical student, who was gang-raped in a moving bus in Delhi, died on December 29, 2012, in a Singapore hospital where she had been flown for treatment. Her body was brought back in the early hours of December 30 and cremated.

Delhi gang-rape: Victim's purported photo is of Kerala student, claims Tharoor

2013-01-02 00:03:00

New Delhi: He is the controversy's favourite child!

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor is in the eye of the storm again by claiming the purported pictures of the victim on social media are apparently of a Kerala engineering student.

"There's so much disinformation going around now. Purported pix of the victim on social media are apparently of a Kerala engineering student," Tharoor tweeted.

He has gone on to tweet that if the parents do not object, the name and identity of the victim ought to be revealed in order for her to be honored across the nation.

"Unless her parents object, she should be honoured and the revised anti-rape law named after her. She was a human being with a name, not just a symbol," he tweets.

"Wondering what interest is served by continuing anonymity of the Delhi gang-rape victim. Why not name and honour her as a real person with own identity?" said Tharoor on social networking site.

Fake photos of the Delhi gang-rape victim have gone viral on the internet. Dailybhaskar does not know the source or origin of these pictures. However, what is infuriating is that some pranksters feel it is ok to pick up pictures of innocent women and photoshop them and post them online as those of the victim.

CM launches the 'ambitious' cash transfer scheme in Delhi

2013-01-02 00:48:00

New Delhi: The Delhi government rolled out the cash transfer programme in two districts of the capital on Tuesday(January 1) with only four out of 26 identified schemes being covered.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit launched the centrally-sponsored Aadhaar-enabled direct cash transfer scheme being implemented in North West and North East districts.

Touted as a "game-changer", the programme, will cover a select 26 schemes like educational scholarship for SC/ST and OBC and widow pension. Food, fertilisers, diesel and kerosene have already been kept out. The two Delhi districts are part of 20 districts in six states and three Union Territories identified for launch of the programme.

Around 12,000 beneficiaries of four schemes - post-matric scholarship for SC, post-matric scholarship for OBC, Indira Gandhi Matritava Sahyog Yojna and Janani Suraksha Yojna - have been brought under the new programme.

Rape capital: 78% Delhi women were sexually harassed in 2012

2013-01-02 01:09:00

New Delhi: Delhi is certainly unsafe for women.

Even as the anger over the death of a 23-year-old gnag-rape victim refuses to subside, 92 out of 100 men in the 18-25-year age bracket say some or all of their friends have made passes at women at public places, while more than 78% women in the Capital have been sexually harassed in 2012.

Though Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is unhappy with Delhi being labelled as India's rape capital, the city reported over 600 cases of rape this year, according to police.

According to a survey done by Hindustan Times, the response of more than half the 146 men surveyed showed why Delhi is called the rape capital of India with 661 incidents last year till December 15. They say women invite harassment because of the way they dress and behave. And 52% said it’s okay to pass comments on women, as long as one doesn’t touch them.

The survey, done by research agency MaRS exclusively for HT during the last week of 2012, covered 356 women — apart from the 146 men — who use public transport.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents support the decision to set up fast-track courts to try rape cases. And asked about measures to stop sexual harassment, more than three-fourths of them say swifter punishment is the way forward.

A few of Delhi’s citizens, however, think that the problem lies with the male attitude, which must be changed. While 24% men support this view, only

19% women think so — a sign of women feeling that changing male attitudes is a near-impossible task.

The survey also brought out the attitudinal differences between men and women. While a majority of women disagree that the issue of sexual harassment is exaggerated, 65% of men thought that it is. But both sides agree that there is no silver bullet to solve the problem, a report published in HT said.

Quran allows polygamy, not encourages it: Court

2013-01-02 01:16:00

New Delhi: A maulvi, accused of performing a girl's marriage forcibly with a married man, has been denied anticipatory bail by a Delhi court which said the Sharia Law allows polygamy but only under special circumstances.

The court denied the relief to Maulvi Mustafa Raja of Delhi dismissing his arguments that as per the Sharia Law, a man is allowed to keep four wives at a time.

"I may observe that even in countries governed by Sharia (Islamic) law, the second marriage is permitted under special circumstances such as an illness of the first wife or her inability to bear children.

"In these cases, with the first wife's consent, a man may marry again and this is referred to as polygamy, a subset of polygamous marriages. The holy Quran permits a Muslim man to marry more than one woman at a time (up to a maximum of four), but does not encourage such behaviour," Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said.

The court also said polygamy is only permitted in certain circumstances, including when the husband's death has left his wife with no other means of support.

According to the police, Raja had forcibly got the girl married with accused Nadeem Khan last year without her consent and also in her parents' absence and that the victim was raped by her alleged husband.

Even the consent of Khan's first wife, from whom he has got three children, was not taken at the time of his second marriage, the police had said.

The girl had managed to escape from Khan's clutches and had informed her parents about the incident after reaching her house, it said.

The court, while dismissing the anticipatory bail plea, said the practice of polygamy has been regulated or abolished in many Muslim states/nations and it cannot be encouraged in a liberal democracy like India.

"In the secular states of the Muslim world such as Turkey and Tunisia, polygamy is illegal in any form. Even in the nations where it is permitted, polygamy is only practised by a small minority.

"Before a man can take an additional wife, he is required to obtain the consent of his existing wife or wives," it said.

The judge also observed that polygamy is permissible in Sharia Law "as a part of social duty and charitable motives or when it seeks to prevent destitution."

"Keeping in view the conduct of Maulvi Raja and the seriousness of the offence involved, I find no ground to grant any indulgence to the accused. The application for grant of anticipatory bail is hereby dismissed," the judge said.

Maulvi Mustafa Raja had moved the sessions court fearing his arrest in an FIR registered at Aman Vihar in North West Delhi.In the FIR, he had been accused of forcing the girl to marry an already married man.

Delhi gang-rape: Bus owner booked in a case of cheating

2013-01-02 01:51:00

New Delhi: Delhi police have registered a case against the owner of the bus in which the 23-year-old woman was gang-raped here on the night of December 16.

Dinesh Yadav has been booked for giving false information to the state transport department to get a registration certificate and permit for the bus, which was being used for ferrying school children.

"The residential proof submitted by Yadav was found false because he never resided at the mentioned address," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sindhu Pillai.

"Anant Gopal, the landlord of the property in north Delhi's Burari, told us that Yadav never resided at his house. Yadav filed a false affidavit claiming that he was a resident of the given address," said Pillai.

Delhi gang-rape exclusive: Cops' lies nailed, bus was traced in 'hafta' record

2013-01-02 02:30:00

New Delhi: As the angry outbursts over the death of a 23-year-old gang-rape victim continue unabated, a new revelation is sure to trigger a fresh storm.

It is illegal to allow transporters to run buses after-hours, but had the lackadaisical police not permitted this, the bus that was the epicentre of the horrific incident couldn't have been zeroed in.

Sources in the Delhi Police told Dailybhaskar that a traffic policeman had recorded the registration number of the bus in a 'hafta' diary - a record of illegally-plying buses for which bribes have been paid for exemption of prosecution. That immunity from the police, however, is seen as the sole reason the gang-rape was not detected as no cop intercepted it while it circled the area slowly, the said.

The cop identified the bus when the police relayed the description provided by the victims. It finally led the police to zero in on two transporters with Yadav as their surnames.

The entry diary (used by traffic policemen to collect protection money from transporters) gave the exact registration number of the bus, which was later corroborated by a police informer who identified the rapists on the basis of the description provided by the male friend of the girl who was also thrashed mercilessly, the sources added.

The very fact that the bus was plying illegally for hours on Sunday night with impunity suggests the active collusion of traffic police personnel.

The bus was culled from a list of 370 chartered buses and the owner Dinesh Yadav was picked up by the police from his Noida Sector 62 residence and brought to verify the description of driver Ram Singh and also identify him after his arrest.

Yadav has contracted the bus to two schools in Noida and South Delhi. He used the bus for picking up passengers after evening and this could not have happened without the connivance of certain personnel in the Delhi Traffic Police, which facilitated the illegal operation with rogue driver Ram Singh at the wheels.

The one fact that has left many red faces in Delhi Police is the sheer brazenness of the accused in circling the same stretch multiple times on the fateful night. After brutalizing the girl and throwing her out of the moving bus alongwith her male companion, Mukesh, brought the bus to the same stand at Munirka. Even while the rape was being committed, the bus passed unchallenged by cops on the road.

Mukesh had admitted before the police that he was instructed by his brother to drive slowly while others took turns in raping the girl.

She and her friend were thrown out of the bus during the second round when the bus was negotiating the U-turn below the Mahipalpur flyover. The bus entered Munirka area for the third time after the gangrape and it was taken to Noida by Ram Singh where the bus was washed to erase evidence.

Senior Delhi Police officers admit that there were lapses on part of the Traffic Police that failed to track down buses running illegally after evening hours in the city.

Delhi gang-rape: Chemical castration can't stop rape; lasts only 3 months

2013-01-02 03:30:00

New Delhi: Can chemical castration stop rape? NO.

As outrage against the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim grows, the government has played with public sentiments by proposed chemical castration of culprits in rare cases.

But, rapists can be made impotent for only three months as there is no chemical that can neuter them throughout their lives.

According to Indian Medical Association, government is playing with public sentiments. "If it wants to make a rapist impotent throughtout his life, surgery is the only option. But, the government's proposal doesn't talk about any surgery."

Sexologist Dr Arun Tiwari says chemical castration stops production of testosterone hormone in males for only three months, during which a person develops dislike for sex.

The procedure costs around Rs 35,000, he added.

The final draft of the bill by the Congress, which is to be submitted to the Justice JS Verma-led Committee set up by the Centre in the wake of the horrific incident on 16 December, has not, however been readied yet, the sources said.

Some of the provisions of this tougher law include imprisonment up to 30 years for rape convicts and setting up of fast track-courts to decide the cases within 3 months and were discussed in the presence of party chief Sonia Gandhi on 23 December when she had held a meeting with a group of people protesting against the gang-rape incident.

Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, which has framed and helped frame many a landmark legislations like RTI, is likely to be involved in the whole exercise.

The Congress has decided to propose a tougher law to check crimes against women which could includes a provision like chemical castration of perpetrators of rape in rare cases.

Sources said the Women and Child Development Ministry, headed by Krishna Tirath, held a marathon meeting with stakeholders on this issue on Friday during which several suggestions have been made.

The ministry will a prepare a summary of the suggestions received and will submit it to the Justice Verma-headed three-member committee set up to review existing laws make recommendations changes in them to effectively check crimes against women.

“There is no government draft till now. The summary that we submit to the J S Verma Committee will be the first written document on which the new law will be based,” sources said.

In the meeting with the protestors at her 10 Janpath residence, Gandhi had favoured fast track courts for trying rape cases with a 90-day cap while Renuka Chowhdary had made a strong pitch for chemical castration to rape accused saying such a punishment is already in practice in various countries and that it had a deterrent effect, sources said.

There is also a suggestion to re-define the juvenile and lower their age.

One of the accused in the ghastly rape case, who inflicted maximum brutality on the victim, is a juvenile and aged a few months less than 18 years.

A view has been expressed by a section that only those aged below 15 years should be described as juvenile.

The proposal of the Women and Child Ministry will undergo legal scrutiny and an ordinance is likely to be brought after the proposal is vetted by the Home Ministry and the Law Ministry.

Since the next session of Parliament is more than two months away, the government is contemplating bringing the ordinance, an issue discussed in the last two Core Group meetings of Congress on 24 and 29 December, sources said.

(With PTI inputs)

Special task force formed to look at safety of women

2013-01-02 03:38:00

New Delhi: After the death of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim on Saturday, the Centre has announced a 13-member special task force headed by Union Home Secretary R K Singh to look at “safety issues” of women in the city and “review the functioning” of the Delhi Police on a regular basis.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday, the task force will “review the action taken by the police and the Delhi government regarding safety issues of women”.

Earlier, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had announced the decision to set up a special task force in his statement in Parliament. The task force will also take into consideration the suggestions made by MPs during the debate on the issue.

It has also been decided that the Union Home Secretary will review the gangrape-and-murder case every fortnight with Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and special public prosecutor Dayan Krishnan.

Besides the Delhi Police Commissioner, the task force includes two other senior Delhi Police officials — Special CP (Traffic) Sudhir Yadav and Special CP (Law & Order) Dharmendra Kumar.

Tharoor should focus on passing the anti-rape law: BJP

2013-01-02 03:42:00

New Delhi: BJP on Tuesday called Union Minister Shashi Tharoor's tweet a needless diversion and stated that he should instead focus on passing a stringent anti-rape law.

Tharoor has questioned the ground for keeping the Delhi gang-rape victim anonymous and had stated that the new law upon the safety of women should be named after her.

"This is the time for making a strong law against rape without any delay. Naming or keeping the victim's identity a secret is not the main issue here. The media, politicians and the society are following the Supreme Court guidelines on the matter at the moment. Tharoor should emphasise on passing the law at the earliest," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

BJP maintained the US and other countries may have provisions where the name of the victim can be revealed with the family's consent but "that should not be our concern now and it can be debated later. He insisted that till any decision is reached the victim's identity be kept a secret".

"Tharoor is an individual but he is also a minister. There is no need for him to divert attention from the principal issue. He should use his influence with Congress and the government to ensure that a special session of Parliament is called and a strong anti-rape law passed," Hussain said.

The main opposition said precious time has already been lost due to the sparring and blame game on the Delhi gangrape issue between the Delhi government and the Centre.

Congress has distanced itself from Tharoor's tweet saying it is his personal view.

Yo Yo Honey Singh! When Sheila danced to the tune of Punjabi rapper

2013-01-02 04:54:00

New Delhi: A video of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit shaking a leg with controversial Punjabi rapper Honey Singh has gone viral on internet.

The video has drawn a lot of attention after the 28-year-old rapper was forced by angry women to cancel his concert in Gurgaon because of sexist lyrics of some of his songs.

The Dikshit-Honey Singh video relates to an October 2012 concert that was part of International Senior Citizens' Day celebrations. She is seen in it jiving on stage, accompanied by the singer, Delhi minister Kiran Walia and some others, to a robust dance number.

Asked about the video, the CM's office chose not to comment.

The rapper, who has sung for several Bollywood movies, has sought to wash his hands off the controversy triggered by offensive lyrics in some of his songs, saying he had not authored the lyrics that are being attributed to him.

The lyrics have been termed offensive towards women by activists, who have started an online campaign against Singh. An FIR has also been lodged against the rapper in Lucknow. When contacted Singh's manager Anup Kumar claimed that the Gurgaon show was cancelled not because of the protests but in solidarity with the Delhi gang-rape victim.

"We did not cancel the show because of this petition and FIR. We cancelled it in the wake of Delhi gang-rape issue. This is not the first concert we are cancelling in Delhi after that horrific incident. We had also cancelled our much publicised December 25 event," Kumar said.

Bristol Hotel, however, disputed Honey Singh's version, saying it was the management and not Singh, who decided to cancel the performance. Singh has also issued a public notice claiming that he is not the author of those lyrics.

"Honey Singh wishes to clarify through this notice that he has no connection whatsoever with the said songs. My client has already written to various digital platforms to immediately take down the video/songs and is also considering appropriate legal action for defamation, loss of reputation and violation of privacy," a notice by lawyer Pragyan Pradip Sharma, on behalf of Singh, read.

The popular youth icon came under the scanner for his misogynistic lyrics. A petition filed by Kalpana Misra via Change.org appealed for a ban on the Punjabi rapper's New Year's eve performance. The International Villager, as he likes to call himself, cancelled his performance at Hotel Bristol in Gurgaon on Monday.

(With PTI, TOI inputs)

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