Delhi cab driver charged with rape and murder of minor; two prior attempt-to-murder cases on record
Delhi Police on Monday arrested Bashu Kumar (29), a cab driver, in connection with the kidnapping, rape, and killing of a 10-year-old girl in South Delhi's Mehrauli area. The arrest followed an investigation that relied on CCTV footage, vehicle registration checks, and GPS tracking, according to officers.
Kumar has prior criminal cases against him, including two attempt-to-murder cases filed in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. He is also accused of attacking a police officer in Bihar's Khagaria district. Despite these pending cases, he had been working for ride-hailing companies in Delhi for several years.
During questioning, police sources stated that the accused did not express remorse for the alleged crimes. However, legal experts note that such statements are part of police records and do not constitute a judicial determination of guilt. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Kumar has been living in the capital and driving cabs in the Delhi-NCR region for the past 10 years. He was staying in rented accommodation in Gurgaon with his brother at the time of his arrest. Police described him as having a quick temper, but these characterizations are based on preliminary investigations.
The case has raised questions about background checks for drivers employed by ride-hailing platforms. Authorities are expected to scrutinise the hiring processes of these companies to prevent such incidents in the future.
