Cop's death: DMRC told to preserve CCTV footage

A Delhi court on Friday directed the Crime Branch and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to preserve the CCTV footage of Rajiv Chowk and Rithala Metro stations. Upasana Mukherjee reports.

A Delhi court on Friday directed the Crime Branch and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to preserve the CCTV footage of Rajiv Chowk and Rithala Metro stations. The order came in view of the alibi pleas of two brothers charged with a constable's death during protests at India Gate.

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Holding that preserving the footage would "serve the end of justice", metropolitan magistrate Ambika Singh said, "Investigating Officer (IO) is directed to do the needful regarding the preservation of the CCTV footage pertaining to stations Rithala and Rajiv Chowk dated December 23, 2012... and DMRC is also directed to preserve the same."

The DMRC and the police submitted their respective status reports in the case before the court. The crime branch in its report said it needed at least one week's time to scrutinise the CCTV footage and give a status report.

In its report, DMRC said the CCTV footage is provided to investigation agencies on court orders only. It added that as per its policy, CCTV footage is preserved in the system for seven days after which it gets erased automatically.

The accused duo, Kailash Joshi and his brother Amit, on December 26 had moved the court for directions to preserve the video footage of the two Metro stations for December 23. They had claimed they were travelling in the Metro train and were nowhere near the spot where the incident occurred.

Constable Subhash Chand Tomar died during the anti-rape protests at India Gate.