Rape Doc can be nailed by a 'Lewinsky'

No medical evidence to suggest rape, as the last intercourse occurred two months ago, say cops unless, of course, victim has stained undergarments

No medical evidence to suggest rape, as the last intercourse occurred two months ago, say cops unless, of course, victim has stained undergarments

In November 1997, Monica Lewinsky told her confidant and supposed friend Linda Tripp that she had in her possession a blue Gap dress that still bore the semen stain that resulted from her administering oral sex to president Bill Clinton in February of that year. With a DNA match, that dress almost brought down the Clinton presidency.

Closer home, police investigating the alleged rape of an MBBS student by Dr Rahul Deshwal (29) may find it difficult to get strong evidence to nail him. While there is enough circumstantial evidence, there is no medical evidence to ascertain rape.

Showing the way: Monica Lewinsky had preserved her semen-stained dress, which established the former US President Bill Clinton's sexcapade and almost lost him the presidency

Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Himanshu Roy said, "It has been two months since Deshwal and the victim had intercourse.

There is no DNA evidence from either the victim or the accused to establish the rape charges.

So, we are gathering forensic and circumstantial evidence to build a strong case against the accused."

Rukmani Krishnamurthy, former director of the State Forensics Science Lab, said, "Only if the victim has preserved her undergarments when she was raped do we get DNA to establish rape."

The circumstantial evidence includes dates when the accused confronted the victim and forced her to consume liquor before sexually assaulting her.

"We are in the process of gathering eyewitnesses who may have spotted the accused and victim together.

We will visit all the places they went to, for instance the hostel room where they met, and places outside the hostel," said the officer.

The victim in her statement to the police also said she had been given emergency contraceptive pills. The police will now scout around for the source of the pills.
u00a0
She had also stated that her juice, when she was first raped, had been spiked. While Dr Deshwal refutes the allegation, the police believe she had been given a date rape drug like Flunitrazepam (see box).
u00a0
"We will also be looking for the source of the drug," said a senior police officer.
u00a0
Cop speaks

MRA Marg Senior PI Sanjeev Kokil said, "The victim's statement in the FIR corroborates our preliminary findings. In effect, we have circumstantial evidence."

The forensic evidence includes the doctor's laptop and his mobile phone, both sent to the state Forensic Science Laboratory, Kalina.

"We have requested the SFSL cyber scientists to look into the hard disk for clues and approach mobile service providers for call details of the accused," said the officer.

Date Rape

Drug-facilitated date rape is the use of drugs to assist the attacker in the crime. The drug can be any substance that is mind altering.

The most common date rape drugs are alcohol, Flunitrazepam, also known as Rohypnol, and Ketamine.

Many assailants often use alcohol because their victims often willingly imbibe it and can be encouraged to drink enough to lose inhibitions or consciousness.

Even if the victim agrees to sex, the act is considered as rape.

The story behind the dress
u00a0
In November 1997, Monica Lewinsky told her confidante and supposed friend, Linda Tripp, that she had in her possession a blue Gap dress that still bore the semen stain that resulted from her administering oral sex to President Clinton in February of that year.

Tripp called her literary agent, and fellow Clinton-hater, Lucianne Goldberg to report the news that evidence existed in Lewinsky's closet that could prove a sexual relationship between Monica and the President.u00a0

Goldberg and Tripp, according to published reports in both Time and Newsweek, discussed stealing the dress and turning it over to investigators.u00a0 Goldberg admitted having such a discussion with Tripp, calling it a "Nancy Drew fantasy."

In late November, Lewinsky mentioned to Tripp that she intended to have the dress, which she had been saving a souvenir, dry-cleaned for a family event.u00a0

Tripp, anxious to preserve the dress to nail the President, discouraged her from doing so.u00a0 "I would tell my own daughter," Tripp told her, that she should save the dress "for your own ultimate protection" should she later be accused of lying about the affair with Clinton.

When Lewinsky expressed skepticism that it would ever come to that, Tripp told her that the dress made her look "really fat" and she shouldn't wear it again in public.

In late July, 1998, Lewinsky turned the dress over to Kenneth Starr's investigators after signing an immunity agreement.u00a0

A blood sample was taken from Clinton on August 3, and on August 17, the FBI reported its conclusion that Clinton was the source of the semen on the dress "to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty."

When news of the the existence of the dress surfaced in published reports in early August, politicians and commentators alike agreed that the blue dress proved Clinton lied when he denied a sexual relationship with Lewinsky.

Just 11% of rapes involve use of weapons

Side bar Box- statistical findings

According to Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), 11% of rapes involve the use of a weapon, while 84% use force alone.

Other common characteristics of a date rapist include male dominance, hostile attitudes toward women, use of force in sexual relationships, and excessive use of drugs and alcohol.

The amount of prior sexual experience also plays a role in the actions of a date rapist.

Date rape is also called acquaintance rape because 70% or more of victims know their attackers. The majority of rapes occur within a mile of the victim's home.
u00a0
According to RAINN, 2/5 rapes occur in the victim's home, 1/5 in the home of a friend or relative, and 1/12 occurs in a parking garage. Also, 43% of rapes occur between 6 p.m. and midnight.