Meet crack team who nailed killers

On Friday, a group of Delhi Police investigators was anxiously waiting in a corner inside the courtroom for the final verdict.

The team included former DCP South Chaya Sharma, Special Task Force (South) Inspector Rajender Singh and former SHO Vasant Vihar Anil Kumar Sharma had nail-biting moments while awaiting the historic judgement.

"It was a team work. We were fortunate enough to have a brilliant team of officers who gathered evidence that also passed the litmus test of three judicial scrutinies. Also, the statements given by Nirbhaya herself proved to be of vital importance. We promised Nirbhaya's parents that we will provide them justice and finally the verdict is here," said Chaya Sharma, an IPS officer who is currently with NHRC.

December 16, 2012, is still fresh in the memory of Rajender Singh. He recalls the herculean task undertaken by cops while collecting the evidence.

"At times, we even had to jump the wall of the police stations from the backside as there were protestors gathered outside the main gate. We were able to convince the court that the brutality involved in this crime was beyond human nature. We explained the term 'dangerous' with medical and scientific evidence so that the culprits do not get any benefit," said Singh, who is now with the ACP operations South West.

For the first time, cops had used high-end techniques like orthodontic evidence, wherein teeth marks on Nirbhaya's body were scientifically matched with that of the culprits. Body-to-body DNA testing was conducted, (samples were collected from the body of the accused as well the victim, such as semen and blood, for

cross checking) which helped nab the accused.

"We filed the 36 page charge-sheet in just 18 days, this too happened for the first time. We identified the spot within hours and collected the evidence from there. We also sent forensic evidence to Karnataka to get the reports. We are relieved that the court found no flaws in our evidence," said Anil Kumar Sharma, who is now the SHO of Kirti Nagar.