U.S. woman sexually assaulted in India fumes against ‘judicial corruption’

Jennipha-Lauren Nielsen, an American human rights activist, caused quite a stir in social media last week, accusing the “corrupt Indian legal system” for giving bail to a person who sexually molested her in New Delhi in 2013.

Nielsen, also a gender equality activist, posted a live video shot outside the Consulate General in San Francisco on Facebook July 30 in which she was seen as questioning the Delhi High Court’s decision to grant bail to her assailant and suspending the seven-year sentence awarded to him by a trial court.

Upset with the high court’s order, Nielsen went to the Indian Consulate but alleged she was denied any help there.

She wrote: “#ConvictedRapist set free #India #WomensRights. My attacker in India was convicted and sentenced for his crime when found guilty. Now due to the pervasive corruption he’s been given bail during his appeal on a crime he was convicted and sentenced for. Again, I am denied assistance...”

Her story, which was commented on by many people on social media, was picked by the media in India and abroad. Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal tweeted: “What is wrong is wrong. It’s our duty as citizens of a country we love and respect, to stand up for what is right. Not only does this tarnish India it speaks poorly on how we protect women our own, and those who visit. #NoBailToRapists.”

In the video she went on to say: “India’s incredible corruption and lack of support for women that are attacked is continuing. They refuse to help me, yet they say that they want to stop the violence against women in their own country... They want me to spend thousands of dollars to travel to the state of California on my own money because they have let a convicted criminal out on bail. We don’t give bail to convicted criminals.”

According to a Times of India report, in the unusual case going back to 2013, Nielsen returned from San Francisco to India to testify in a case where the nephew of a former Delhi mayor allegedly assaulted her while she was asleep, after partying with her.

Her assailant was held guilty of digital rape and sentenced to a seven year imprisonment by a Delhi court in February 2019, but was later granted bail pending appeal in a higher court.

In the Facebook video she went on ask her “desi friends” to help her and ensure that justice was served to her in the case and added: “You do not let convicted criminals off when the victims were brave enough to go and testify. I need your help.”

According to news report based on the viral video, Nielsen said she was told to get some forms notarized. “Now [in] San Francisco, they tell me now that I need to go and get it notarized locally, then have to go to Sacramento and get the notary verified,” she said.

The Times of India said her post attracted thousands of views and shares, leading to the Consulate giving its version of the incident. Acknowledging that she was indeed told to get her documents notarized elsewhere by clerical staff as per procedure, one official told TOI’s Washington Bureau that she was recalled after consular officials were told she was upset, and all help was rendered to her, after which she thanked the consulate before leaving.

“Our deepest sympathies and our support are with you. As you know, all attestations were provided on the same day (Tuesday) after you spoke to the Consulate officials and we waived the requirements of the Hague Convention that requires apostilling of legal documents. We hope that you obtain the justice you seek and deserve at the earliest,” the consulate wrote in response to her video, the TOI report said.