14 DAY TRIAL // Indian Police Chief Ranjit Sinha has a PR disaster on his hands after making an insulting comment on the sensitive topic of rape.
India has seen several high-profile rape cases recently, one of which involved a group of men and a dead victim.
Central Bureau of Investigation chief Sinha is in charge of overseeing a lot of those investigations, The Huffington Post reveals.
He was trying to make a point about gambling, which is currently illegal in the country.
Sinha insists that, even if betting is illegal and hard to control, that it is still going on. He also mentions that laws regulating it should exist, whether enforcing them is realistic or not.
If they don't, they are just condoning it, as they would another serious offense such as rape.
It is like saying that "if you can't prevent rape, you enjoy it," his now infamous statement reads.
"It is better to have something, legalize it and earn some revenue, rather than throwing your hands up and let things happen," he also said, as relayed by EuroNews.
Many women's groups are naturally outraged and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, Brinda Karat, is slamming Sinha for the insensitive comment.
"How can he remain the head of India’s premier investigation agency?" asks Kavita Krishnan, an activist with the All India Progressive Women’s Association.
The official has apologized and stressed, once more, that his comment was not about rape.
"I regret any hurt caused. [...] I gave my opinion that betting should be legalized and that if the laws cannot be enforced, that does not mean that laws should not be made.
"This is as erroneous as saying that if rape is inevitable one should lie back and enjoy it. I reiterate my deep sense of regard and respect for women and my commitment for gender issues," he notes.