A police chief in India made a horrible remark about rape the other day.

[CBI chief Ranjit] Sinha made the remark on Tuesday during a conference about illegal sports betting and the need to legalise gambling. He said if the country could not stop gambling, it could at least make some revenue by legalising it. “If you cannot enforce the ban on betting, it is like saying, ‘If you can’t prevent rape, you enjoy it’,” he said.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Sinha said he was sorry if his statement hurt the sentiments of some people and added that he made the remark inadvertently.

Well that’s kind of the point – it indicates that he thinks rape can be “enjoyable” if you just tweak your attitude. “If you can’t prevent assault and battery, you enjoy it.” Oh yes? How?

The remarks by the CBI director have caused outrage across the country, which was recently roiled by widespread protests following the fatal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on a moving bus in New Delhi.

Following a public outcry over the Delhi attack, the government introduced tougher rape laws in March, which include the death penalty for repeat offenders and for those whose victims are left in a “vegetative state”.

And it’s not very helpful if police chiefs talk as if rape is just rough sex.

Kavita Krishnan, an activist with the All India Progressive Women’s Association, called for Sinha to step down.

“How can he remain the head of India’s premier investigation agency?” she said.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said Sinha’s comments were offensive to women everywhere.

Oh well. If you can’t stop clueless remarks about rape, you enjoy them.