Judge sends Uber rape suspect to custody for two weeks

Indian court asks police to explain steps taken by Uber app executives

Protesters shout slogans at a candle light vigil on Monday against the rape of a female taxi passenger in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/ Reuters
Protesters shout slogans at a candle light vigil on Monday against the rape of a female taxi passenger in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/ Reuters

An Indian court sent the Uber taxi driver accused of raping a young passenger to judicial custody for two weeks.

The attack in New Delhi led the government to request a nationwide ban on the popular US online cab company.

Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey on Wednesday ordered the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32, to be kept in Delhi’s Tihar jail until December 24th. He also asked the police to explain steps taken against Uber executives.

The case has caused uproar in India after it emerged that the suspect had been previously charged with sexual offences, including rape.

Uber failed to uncover the charges because it does not carry out background checks on drivers in India.

Reuters

  • Join The Irish Times on Whatsapp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter