Man acquitted in 2005 rape case detained, released

As Delhi Police searches for clues in old cases to crack the gangrape case of a 30-year-old BPO employee, a row has been triggered after a man acquitted in the 2005 Mayapuri-rape case was arrested and interrogated by the police.

As Delhi Police searches for clues in old cases to crack the gangrape case of a 30-year-old BPO employee, a row has been triggered after a man acquitted in the 2005 Mayapuri-rape case was arrested and interrogated by the police.

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Crying foul and complaining about the "humiliation" and "illegal detention" of her husband since November 29, Saraswati Bala Mandal, wife of Niranjan Mandal, rushed to Delhi High Court on Wednesday. Mandal was released by the police on Tuesday evening after the interrogation.

His lawyer Wills Mathews submitted before a bench headed by justice BD Ahmed that it was unfortunate that Mandal was being treated as an accused even after his acquittal by the trial court in March 2010. Mathews also accused the police of violating all laws regarding arrest in Mandal's case and alleged that he was just picked up from his home without a notice.

The standing counsel for Delhi Police, Pawan Sharma, submitted that they had formed 25 teams which are looking into earlier such cases and sending summons to earlier suspects in many cases to get clues.

The judge said, "Since he (Mandal) has been acquitted on merit, he should not be seen as a rapist," adding, "But we can't prevent any investigative process."

The court, however, told the police that he has to be served a notice every time he was required for questioning and specified that no third degree methods can be used against him.

In the Mayapuri case, two men raped a 23-year-old hearing and speech-impaired woman in a moving car on Mayapuri Road in the early hours of July 20, 2009.