Uber driver gets life in jail till death for rape

Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar Yadav who raped a woman executive on December 5 last year was on Tuesday sentenced by a court here to life in prison till death.

Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja also directed the 33-year-old Yadav to pay a fine of Rs.21,000.

Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava sought maximum punishment for the convict so that a strong message is sent to the society.

The prosecution added that the convict was involved in various other offences including molestation.

However, Yadav's defence counsel Dharmender Kumar Mishra sought leniency citing his family background.

He told the court that Yadav has old and ailing parents, a wife and three minor children who were dependent on him.

The court directed the Delhi Legal Service Authority to take care of his family.

Yadav's wife, his two daughters and father, who were present in the court room, broke down after hearing the sentence.

The victim's parents, who were also present in court, expressed satisfaction.

Yadav was convicted last month on charges of rape, causing grievous bodily harm and endangering the life of the woman, and other charges dealing with kidnapping, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt.

Police said the woman executive was raped by Yadav on the night of December 5, 2014, in the cab she hired to head back home in north Delhi's Inderlok area. Yadav drove the woman to an isolated place and raped her. - IANS