Who Cracked the Sensational Nirbhaya Case
(Interviewed by Lippi Parida)
The dark, cold night of December 16, 2012, and a brutal assault of a woman in a moving bus in South Delhi. 23-year-old Jyoti Singh,a female physiotherapy intern travelling with her friend, had been beaten, gangraped and tortured in Munirka. With no concrete leads, this sensational case was cracked by firebrand cop- DCP Chhaya Sharma. A series, “Delhi Crime”, based on this horrendous crime, won the EMMY Awards, and strict laws were implemented for women’s safety.A decade later, the famous cop speaks about the Nirbhaya Case. Chhaya Sharma is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), Delhi which comprises three districts East, North East and Shahdra, often called as ‘Pataal lok’ of Delhi!
What were Nirbhaya’s last words to you?
I met Nirbhaya a few times; the most poignant words were “Madam inko chodna mat” (do not spare them madam).These words left a lasting impression on me, and I was touched by the girl’s faith in me and the responsibility she gave me for bringing her perpetrators to justice.
What became your professional lesson after you cracked the Nirbhaya case?
Teamwork is supreme. A leader must show courage to make tough decisions and have the professional skills to lead the team up front. Handholding the victim and her family during the legal process is as necessary as the case trial.
How did you feel after you fulfilled your promise to Nirbhaya and avenged the injustice done to her?
As a police officer, it was my duty to get justice for the victim as far as possible. But in this case, the final court judgement, given by the honourable Supreme Court, was a landmark one, confirming the death sentence. I could look into the mother’s eyes and say I eventually kept my promise to her and her daughter.
How do you deal with the challenges of being a tough cop?
As a professional police officer, I have been trained well. So, the challenge of being a tough cop can be encountered by beingdiligent and meticulous. This job can actually make a difference in people’s lives.
How do you de-stress?
Romantic comedy is my favourite genre on OTT, which keeps me happy and connected with matters of heart and family.Actress Shefali Shah portrays you in “Delhi Crime”. Do you think she has done justice to you?People who know me closely mentioned that Shefali is an outstanding actress and has tried to understand me well to do a nearperfect emulation of my professional role. She does resemble me partially in looks and age and thus was a good choice to play my character, signs off the super copgirl.
Being a decorated officer of the Indian Police Service, you have been awarded the prestigious courage and leadership award instituted by MC Cain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University USA. What has been your stellar contribution on behalf of human rights, compassion, justice and human dignity?
My greatest contribution has been leading the investigating team of the infamous Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case of December 2012 in New Delhi. I investigated this blind case by actively taking charge of the situation. During the six gruelling days of the manhunt across five Indian states, I stood as a shield for my team of officers and men, insulating them from mounting media and civil society pressure. The charge sheet in this case was filed in a record 18 days and withstood various stages of judicial scrutiny, all the way up to the Indian Supreme Court and resulted in conviction with maximum punishment.
