New Delhi: It has been three months since a 25-year-old financial executive was raped in Delhi, allegedly by a driver of app-based taxi service Uber, but during this time, she has had to "re-live the vicious attack multiple times."
"While I would like to forget what happened to me when I was raped by an Uber driver back in December, I have had to re-live the vicious attack multiple times, most recently last week when I was cross examined for the second time by the assailant's counsel," the rape survivor says.
On International Women's Day today, the woman and her lawyer, have issued a statement, in which they say it is a day to reflect on "how much more must be achieved before we can claim true equality."
The young woman was sexually assaulted on December 8, allegedly by Uber driver Shiv Kumar Yadav, who she had called by using the cab service's app. After much outrage over the incident, the transport department in Delhi had banned the use of Uber in the national capital.
But the victim, in her statement, points out how Uber has defied the ban in Delhi and is still operating without legal sanctions. She also claims that "they have refused to meet with my legal team and me to discuss important safety measures that I believe are necessary to ensure that other women do not have to go through what I have endured."
Cab service app Uber, with which Shiv Kumar Yadav had been registered, had drawn fire for failing to deliver on its promise of safety. Uber had not conducted any background checks on Yadav, who had at least five cases against him - two under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act and the rest relating to sexual assaults.
Trial in the case had almost reached the final stage of arguments. But recently, the Delhi High Court granted a plea made by the accused, and passed orders to recall some witnesses. And the first person to be re-examined post that order was the rape survivor herself. The accused had appealed, as according to him, his previous defence counsel was incompetent.
Police teams associated with the case allege that the defence counsels have been delaying proceedings, despite filing chargesheet within 17 days of the incident and the prosecution examining all witnesses by the end of January.
The rape survivor has also filed a case in New York, to sue Uber, which is headquartered in San Francisco.