Meet The IPS-officer, Who Solved Nirbhaya Case

Meet IPS officer Chhaya Sharma, the real-life inspiration behind Netflix's "Delhi Crime," a series based on the 2012 Delhi gangrape case. Sharma, a 1999-batch IPS officer, led the 41-member investigation team in the Nirbhaya case, which shook the nation. The series depicts her character as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi, portrayed by actor Shefali Shah.

The Nirbhaya case involved the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedic student in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012, by six men, including a juvenile. The incident sparked nationwide protests and led to significant changes in India's laws related to sexual violence.

Sharma recalls that when she first received vague details about the incident around 2:00 am, she wasted no time and registered an FIR after collecting information from Safdarjung Hospital. Describing it as a "blind case," she and her team faced the daunting task of finding the culprits with limited information, such as the color of the bus, seats, and curtains.

Despite the challenges, Sharma's team managed to apprehend the culprits within five days of the incident. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork, stating that she is only as good as the teams she leads. The investigation involved meticulous efforts, including identifying 370 white buses registered with the RTO based on vague details provided by a male victim.

Throughout the investigation, Sharma remained in constant touch with Nirbhaya and her family, admiring Nirbhaya's courage and strength. Despite the trauma, Nirbhaya narrated the entire dreadful episode with confidence, which Sharma describes as an act of extraordinary courage.

Sharma believes that the Nirbhaya case brought about significant changes in the police's working methods. There is now a victim-centric approach, with priority given to teamwork, diligence, and meticulous paperwork. These changes, according to Sharma, are essential parameters for effective investigation.

Apart from the Nirbhaya case, Sharma has solved several other high-profile cases, including the death case of two-year-old baby Falak, the shootout case of liquor baron Ponty Chadha, and the murder case of Deepak Bhardwaj. Currently serving as the Deputy Inspector General at the National Human Rights Commission, Sharma's dedication and commitment to justice have left a lasting impact on India's law enforcement system.