First MLC in Uber case had 'lapses'

It failed to record rape victim's injuries

The first medico-legal case (MLC) report prepared after the alleged rape in an Uber cab had to be scrapped because it failed to record the injuries suffered by the woman, according to a Delhi Commission for Women official.

The “error” could have weakened the case against the cab driver, according to the official. But when the “lapse” was pointed out, a fresh MLC was prepared, setting the facts right.

 Police however deny that there was another MLC prepared – and the first one trashed. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, North, Madhur Verma, denied there were two MLCs. 

“In this case, the examination was conducted only once and only one MLC was prepared. Such allegations are not true,” said Verma.

But sources said that a DCW official noticed that the original MLC report had no mention of some of the visible injuries.  The official then reportedly got in touch with investigating officer to get a fresh MLC drafted.

The woman’s medical examination was conducted at Hindu Rao Hospital.According to the DCW official the “first MLC” also lacked clarity, and used phrases like “seems to be”.

The rape victim herself raised doubts about the way the MLC was prepared, pointing at the “lapses” in the medical examination at Hindu Rao Hospital, according to the official.

“She was disappointed with the way the medical examination was conducted. The medical aid provided at the hospital for the injuries was inadequate. In fact, some of the injections that she should have got immediately were given only the next day,” said the official.

The finance analyst was allegedly raped on December 5 in an Uber cab she had hired at Vasant Vihar for Inderlok. Police later found that the driver has faced similar cases in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in the past.

The crime led to the banning of web-based cab services in the capital and some other states.