Two individuals facing allegations of raping a 17-year-old girl on a moving bus were employed without undergoing police background checks. Reports indicate that none of the drivers or conductors associated with the private bus company had completed such verifications.
Law enforcement sources revealed that authorities are currently interrogating the bus service operators, which manages a fleet of at least twelve buses, regarding their recruitment practices and the absence of necessary oversight.
Additionally, police are examining individuals who frequently interacted with the buses. It is anticipated that representatives from a paint shop located in Kashmere Gate and a repair facility in Greater Noida will be questioned about their observations related to the buses and the accused individuals.
The incident reportedly occurred on August 4, when the girl was allegedly assaulted after boarding the bus at Pari Chowk in Greater Noida. The bus subsequently traveled approximately 47 kilometers to Kashmere Gate in Old Delhi without being intercepted by any police checkpoints.
The suspects, identified as 39-year-old bus driver Kuldeep and 26-year-old conductor Sandeep, both from Kanpur, were apprehended within four hours of the reported crime, according to police statements.
The victim, who had come from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, was attempting to reach a relative’s residence in Noida. Unfamiliar with the surroundings and caught in the rain, she boarded the bus after being informed it was headed in her desired direction. However, once she noticed that she was the only passenger, she attempted to exit, only to be allegedly pulled back inside by the conductor.
The investigation has also revealed that the bus had eleven outstanding traffic violations, including issues related to retroreflective tape and speed limit devices, as well as operating without a valid permit or breaching permit conditions. Seven of these violations were recorded in July on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 11th, and 23rd.
Furthermore, the bus’s interior CCTV system was non-functional, and heavy curtains obstructed the windows, limiting visibility from outside.
The bus traversed the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and the Ring Road, passing through or close to areas such as Chilla border, Mayur Vihar, and Geeta Colony. Despite this route, it was not subject to any safety or compliance checks, and no alerts were triggered during the journey, according to police reports.
Investigators are also assessing whether the bus was equipped with a GPS or other vehicle-tracking systems, and if panic buttons were operational at the time of the incident.
In addition, police have sent biological evidence, including semen and hair samples obtained from the bus, to the Forensic Science Laboratory. They are requesting a rapid report as they prepare to advance the case to a fast-track court, according to sources.
