By A.PRAWIN
Student Ambassador
of AFRS
1. Introduction about the Case
The Nirbhaya case refers to a brutal gang rape and murder that occurred in New Delhi, India, in December 2012. The victim was a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern who was assaulted by six individuals while traveling with her male friend on a private bus. The incident deeply impacted the nation, sparking outrage, mass protests, and debates on women’s safety, policing, and the judicial system in India.
This case became a landmark for the role of forensic science
in securing convictions in sexual assault cases and contributed to widespread
changes in India’s criminal laws related to gender-based violence.
2. Details of the Case
On the night of December
16, 2012, the victim and her male friend boarded a private charter bus at
around 9:30 p.m. after watching a movie. The bus, however, was illegally
operating without a license and had been hijacked by six men who intended to
use it for robbery and other crimes.
Inside the moving bus:
●
The
male friend was beaten with an iron rod and restrained.
●
The
woman was gang-raped by all six men.
●
She
was also physically assaulted with a metal rod, leading to severe internal
injuries.
●
After
about an hour-long ordeal, both the victims were stripped and thrown out of the
bus onto the roadside.
They were found by a passerby and rushed to Safdarjung
Hospital. Due to the critical nature of her injuries, the woman was later
transferred to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where she succumbed to
her injuries on December 29, 2012.
The case led to a widespread public movement and was pivotal
in increasing awareness about crimes against women in India.
3. Investigation Carried Out
The Delhi Police launched a high-priority investigation,
which included:
●
Eyewitness statements: The male companion, despite his
injuries, provided a detailed description of the attackers and the bus.
●
CCTV footage analysis: Cameras installed at toll booths
and roads helped track the movement of the bus.
●
Tracing the bus: The bus was located based on its
color and registration details provided by witnesses.
●
Arrests: Within a few days, all six suspects
were arrested from various locations in Delhi and Bihar.
●
Recovery of items: Personal items belonging to the
victim and her friend were recovered from the bus, including clothing and the
iron rod used in the assault.
●
Scientific collection of evidence: Biological samples were taken from
the bus, the victim, and the accused for forensic analysis.
Delhi Police's quick and methodical investigation was
essential in building a strong case for the prosecution.
4. Forensic Aspects of the Case
Forensic evidence was key to establishing the guilt of the
accused:
a. DNA Profiling
●
Semen
samples collected from the victim’s body and her clothes were tested at the
Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).
●
The
DNA profile matched with that of the accused individuals, directly linking them
to the rape.
b. Fingerprints
●
Fingerprints
found inside the bus were matched with those of the accused, placing them at
the scene of the crime.
c. Blood and Hair Samples
●
The
blood and hair of the victim and accused were found inside the bus,
strengthening the evidence that the crime occurred there.
d. Medical and Post-Mortem Reports
●
Medical
examinations revealed the extent of internal injuries, which confirmed the use
of a blunt object (metal rod).
●
The
autopsy confirmed that the injuries were consistent with the brutal description
of the assault.
e. Digital and Mobile Forensics
●
The
mobile phones of the accused were traced to the vicinity of the crime scene.
●
Call
records and tower locations were used to verify their movements on the night of
the crime.
f. Clothing Analysis
●
The
clothes of the accused were stained with blood and bodily fluids, and tested
positive for DNA matches with the victim.
All this forensic evidence played a vital role in
establishing a clear timeline and the involvement of each accused person.
5. How Forensics Played a Role in
Solving the Case
Forensic science provided irrefutable scientific evidence, which:
●
Corroborated witness testimonies (especially that of the male
companion).
●
Linked the accused directly to the victim and the crime scene.
●
Confirmed the nature and tools of
the assault,
particularly the use of a metal rod.
●
Eliminated the possibility of false
accusations
or mistaken identity.
The swift collection and analysis of forensic samples helped
the prosecution build a robust case in a relatively short period of time,
leading to convictions despite the absence of any video footage of the crime
itself.
6. Trial and Punishment
The trial was conducted in a fast-track court due to the severity and public importance of the
case. Here's what followed:
●
Charges filed: Rape, murder, criminal conspiracy,
kidnapping, robbery, and destruction of evidence.
●
Juvenile Accused: One of the six accused was a
juvenile (under 18), and was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. He received
a three-year sentence in a juvenile home and was released in 2015, sparking
public outrage.
●
Execution Date: March 20, 2020, at Tihar Jail, New Delhi.
7. Conclusion
The Nirbhaya case remains one of the most disturbing and
consequential crimes in Indian history. The role of forensic science in this
case highlighted how crucial scientific investigation is in modern law
enforcement. It helped:
●
Solve
the case quickly,
●
Eliminate
doubts,
●
Ensure
justice was served.
The case also led to:
●
The
amendment of Indian rape laws (Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013),
●
The
establishment of fast-track courts
for rape cases,
●
Greater
public awareness and pressure on authorities to act swiftly in cases of
violence against women.
8. References
- Justice Verma Committee Report (2013) – Recommendations on reforms
in laws related to sexual violence.
- Delhi Police Investigation Report (2013)
- Supreme Court Judgement – Mukesh & Ors vs State for
NCT of Delhi (2017)
- Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Reports
- News Outlets:
- The Hindu
- Indian Express
- BBC News
- Times of India
- NCRB (National Crime Records
Bureau) Data Reports
