NEW DELHI: The 22-year-old daughter of a senior bureaucrat was allegedly raped and murdered at her south Delhi residence on Wednesday morning in the upscale Kailash Hills locality. Police said she was alone at home when the attack took place while her parents had gone for their routine gym session. She was later found in a pool of blood and declared brought dead at hospital.Police arrested a 23-year-old former domestic help, Rahul, from a hotel in Dwarka within 12 hours of the crime. He had been dismissed from the household around six weeks earlier over alleged financial misconduct. Investigators believe he returned to the house to commit robbery and is also accused of sexual assault and murder.
How events unfolded
The incident took place around 6.40am on Wednesday.“Her parents had gone for their gym session. A spare key was left outside the flat for the house help, who would usually come around 6.30-7am,” Joint CP (South) Vijay Kumar said.Police said the accused was aware of the family’s routine and the location of the spare key.“The suspect entered the house and attacked the woman while she was studying. After demanding the passcode to the almirah, he bludgeoned her with a blunt object and subsequently strangled her with a cable,” said an officer.According to police, CCTV footage showed the suspect entering the colony at 6.39am, entering the house at around 6.49am, and leaving at around 7.20–7.22am after changing clothes and carrying a backpack.The woman’s parents returned around 8am and found their daughter unconscious on the floor.“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. She was declared brought dead,” Joint CP Vijay Kumar said.Police said she had suffered severe head injuries after being attacked with a blunt object and was strangled using a mobile phone charging cable.Sources said the victim put up resistance before being overpowered.“He hit her on the head with a stick to overpower her before strangling her with a charging cable,” a police officer said.CCTV footage reviewed by the family and police showed the accused entering in dark clothing and exiting in different clothes with a bag.“He entered wearing black-coloured trousers and exited wearing white-coloured trousers while carrying a bag,” police said.A security guard said another domestic worker briefly spoke to the accused as he left.“He asked him why he was in the area and told him to wait and have something to eat. In response, the suspect said he had urgent work and left,” the guard said.Police said the suspect remained inside the house for about 40 minutes, ransacked almirahs and safes, and fled with cash and valuables.“The complainants have also alleged that cash amounting to approximately Rs 2 lakh was stolen from the house,” an officer said. Another account placed the robbery at around Rs 2.5 lakh.
Arrest within 12 hours
Multiple police teams were formed after the incident. The accused was traced to a hotel in Dwarka and arrested within 12 hours.Police said over 15 teams were deployed across Delhi and Rajasthan, including Rajgarh, Alwar, Jaipur and Dausa, where he was suspected to have fled.“He was later apprehended from a hotel in Delhi’s Dwarka,” Joint CP Vijay Kumar said.Allegations of earlier sexual assault in RajasthanPolice said the accused is also wanted in a sexual assault case in Rajasthan’s Alwar district.“Cops confirm woman was sexually assaulted, say suspect had also raped a woman in Rajasthan Tuesday,” officials said.An FIR had already been registered in Rajgarh, Alwar, where he allegedly committed rape and fled before the Delhi crime.
An entry into house
Police said the accused had earlier worked as domestic help in the household for around eight months and was recommended through a known contact. He was removed around a month to six weeks ago after complaints of financial misconduct and alleged gambling-related borrowing.He was aware of the house layout, CCTV system, and the family’s daily routine, including gym timings.“He knew when the victim’s parents would step out for their walk or gym sessions,” a senior officer said.Officials said he also knew where a spare key was kept for domestic help.
Chilling details
Police said CCTV cameras installed at the entrance and inside the premises helped trace the movement of the accused. The live feed was accessible on the victim’s and her father’s mobile phones.The accused was seen entering without a bag and leaving with one. He also changed clothes inside the house before exiting.Forensic teams have collected evidence from the scene, and a post-mortem report is awaited to confirm sexual assault.Police said strong evidence has been collected and a chargesheet will be filed for rape, murder and robbery.“We have collected strong evidence in the case and will make a watertight case… so that he gets the strictest punishment prescribed in the law,” DCP (South East) Hemant Tiwari said.The victim was an IIT graduate and was preparing for the UPSC examination. She was described as academically strong and culturally active.Greater Kailash MLA Shikha Roy said, “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,” she added.(With inputs from PTI)
