New Delhi: A 32-year-old working woman who hired a cab from a Delhi Metro station was raped at a secluded spot by the driver, who was arrested after a brief chase, police said on Friday.
The shocking crime -- the second such incident in four months -- took place in west Delhi's sprawling Dwarka area on Thursday night, soon after she hired the black colour taxi with a yellow stripe around 10.30 p.m. at Dwarka Mor station to reach her Madhu Vihar residence.
The woman works in a shopping Mall in Rajouri Garden, also in west Delhi, said Deputy Commissioner of Police R.A. Sanjeev.
He said the driver, Ramesh Kumar, 38, picked up another passenger and dropped him at Rajapuri. He then took the woman to a secluded spot on the pretext of filling up CNG.
The driver then got into the rear seat and forcefully tried to disrobe the victim, he said.
"Ramesh Kumar also assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she shouted," said Sanjeev.
Sanjeev told IANS that police have registered a case of rape in the matter under the amended definition of the crime.
"Trying to disrobe a woman with intent to sexually assault her also comes under section 376 of IPC," Sanjeev said.
The victim told police that she was punched and slapped on her head and face when she tried to resist the criminal assault.
A passing scooterist heard the woman's screams and alerted a Delhi Police Control Room patrol van stationed some 75 meters away.
Just as the police van reached the crime spot, the driver took off in his taxi, with the woman still inside.
A chase followed, and the taxi was forced to stop some half a kilometre away. "The driver tried to escape but we arrested him," said Sanjeev.
Police said the driver was a resident of Najafgarh and had been plying a taxi since 1996.
He has been booked on charges of rape, wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation.
The Thursday incident follows the December 5 rape of another woman in an Uber taxi. That driver, 32-years old, is now facing trial.