New Delhi, Apr 22 (PTI) A 22-year-old IIT graduate and daughter of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer was allegedly raped and murdered at her residence by their former househelp in southeast Delhi’s upscale Kailash Hills locality on Wednesday morning, hours after the accused and his associates allegedly sexually assaulted another woman in Rajasthan’s Alwar.
Rahul Meena, the 19-year-old domestic help who had worked with the family for around eight months and was sacked around a month ago, has been arrested for the crime, police said this evening.
The woman, who was preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, was alone in her house at the time of the incident and was found murdered in a room by her family members when they returned from the gym, they said.
Preliminary inquiry suggests the woman was sexually assaulted before being strangled to death using a mobile phone charger cable, the police said, adding they are waiting for the postmortem report for confirmation of sexual assault.
The deceased was the daughter of an IRS officer residing in Kailash Hills in Amar Colony, a senior officer said.
“The victim’s parents informed us first. The IRS officer and his wife had gone to the gym, and when they returned around 8 am, they found their daughter lying unconscious on the floor. She was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital in the NFC area, where doctors declared her brought dead. The hospital also informed the police thereafter,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar said.
The officer further said that initial suspicion fell on former domestic help Rahul Meena, who had been terminated from job about one-and-a-half months ago.
CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts confirmed that he entered the colony around 6.30 am, the house around 6.49 am, and left around 7.20 am, during which the crime is suspected to have been committed, the joint commissioner of police (JCP) said.
“More than 15 teams were formed and deployed across multiple locations in Delhi and in Rajasthan’s Rajgarh, Alwar, Jaipur, Dausa where he was likely to be present. He was later apprehended from a hotel in Delhi’s Dwarka,” the JCP said.
Further investigation is underway, and strong evidence has been gathered. Based on this, a comprehensive case will be presented before the court to ensure the accused receives the strictest possible punishment, the officer said.
He also said that the accused had been hired about a year ago after being recommended by a junior officer working with the IRS officer. About one-and-a-half months ago, the same junior advised that he be dismissed following complaints regarding his conduct.
“During the inquiry, it came to light that he was involved in online gaming and had borrowed money from other domestic helps he did not return. When the complainant, the IRS officer, became aware of this, he directed that the individual be removed from service, following which his service was terminated,” he added.
It has also emerged that Meena was also involved in a similar incident a day ago in Alwar, where a rape case is filed against him, the JCP said.
Prima facie, resentment over his termination could also be a factor, but the exact motive will be confirmed after a detailed investigation, the officer told reporters.
As per the preliminary probe, the accused was aware of where a spare set of house keys was usually kept for the domestic help. Since the maid was on leave, he allegedly used the spare key to gain entry into the house. Upon entering, he proceeded upstairs, where the victim’s room is located, and it is suspected that the crime was committed there.
CCTV footage indicates that the accused entered the premises wearing black-coloured trousers and without any bag, and exited wearing white-coloured trousers while carrying a bag. After leaving the building, he took a right turn and fled the area.
“The complainants have also alleged that cash amounting to approximately Rs 2 lakh was stolen from the house,” the officer said The police said that the accused was familiar with the household, including its layout and the daily routine of the family members. He knew when the victim’s parents would step out for their walk or gym sessions.
According to the police, the victim was alone at the residence at the time of the incident. She was allegedly hit with a stick, inflicting significant blunt force trauma on her face and head. Subsequently, the attacker strangled her using a mobile charging cable before fleeing the spot.
The police also said there is no information about the verification of the accused when he was hired.
Sources said the victim put up a strong resistance, following which the accused struck her on the head with a stick to overpower her before strangling her with a charging cable.
A police official also said that after the incident, the family members immediately checked CCTV footage and saw Meena entering their building wearing a black pant and a yellow shirt and going to the third floor of the house belonging to the victim. While exiting he changed his cloth and was seen wearing a white pant and the same yellow shirt with a backpack on his shoulders.
The family has already handed over the entire CCTV footage to the police.
The police said the suspect was also seen on a nearby street camera carrying a backpack.
They said Meena is also wanted in a sexual assault case in Rajasthan’s Alwar.
“A case against the accused was registered on Wednesday. He committed the offence on April 21 with a woman in Rajgarh and fled from Alwar, around 170 km from here, to Delhi.
“An FIR has been registered at the Rajgarh Police Station against him. We are in contact with the Delhi Police, and a team of the Delhi Police has also visited here to question his family members,” an officer in Alwar told PTI.
The police earlier said Meena was seen outside the house even a few days ago.
“What we have got to know is that after committing the crime in Rajasthan, he fled from there and came to Delhi. He directly reached here in Kailash Hills. He knew the exact point where girls’ parents would hide keys when they would step out for the gym.
“CCTV cameras were installed at the entrance of the victim’s room, with the live feed accessible on both the victim’s and her father’s mobile phones,” said the officer.
The brutal incident has sent shockwaves across the upscale residential locality. Locals expressed concern over safety and security in these neighbourhoods.
Greater Kailash MLA Shikha Roy said the victim was a bright and talented young woman with a promising future, and her death is a painful loss for the entire community.
“I have known her personally for several years and have seen her grow up as a sincere, disciplined and exceptionally talented girl. She was brilliant in her studies, had completed engineering from IIT Delhi, and was preparing for the UPSC examination with great determination.
“She was an equally good dancer and other cultural activities, and despite being deeply focused on her studies, she remained humble and connected with people around her,” Roy said.
A case has been registered, and forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene. PTI BM SGV SHB BUN KVK KVK KVK
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