Trial Set to Begin for Driver and Conductor in Gang Rape Case of Minor in Delhi Bus

New Delhi, October 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Third Additional District Court in New Delhi has formally charged a bus driver and conductor in connection with the alleged gang rape of a minor. The trial is set to commence on October 24. The case involves serious allegations, including kidnapping, wrongful confinement, and multiple counts of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The incident occurred on August 4, 2026, when the victim, a minor from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, was traveling to meet relatives in Noida. She exited the bus near Pari Chowk to inquire about directions. Allegedly, the driver and conductor misled her into believing their bus was heading to Sector 63 in Noida, leading her to board. According to police investigations, the bus was empty at the time. Once en route, the conductor reportedly harassed the minor and threatened her when she resisted.During the approximately 47-kilometer journey, both the driver and conductor are accused of taking turns to assault her, also threatening her life. After the ordeal, she was dropped off near Kashmiri Gate, from where she managed to reach a police station by auto-rickshaw to report the crime. In September, the Delhi police submitted a comprehensive 398-page charge sheet to the Third Additional District Court, detailing the case and including statements from around 50 prosecution witnesses.The accused, identified as Kuldeep (the driver) and Sandeep (the conductor), face charges under the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act. The investigation revealed significant lapses in the bus's safety measures, including non-functional CCTV cameras and heavy curtains on the windows. Furthermore, it was discovered that the driver and conductor had not undergone proper police verification prior to their employment. Following the incident, police were able to identify and recover the bus within hours using CCTV footage from the area.Both suspects were arrested shortly thereafter. With charges now formally established, the case is moving into the next phase, where the prosecution will present its evidence and witnesses in court starting October 24.