NEW DELHI: A 23-year-old man accused of raping and murdering the daughter of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in south Delhi had allegedly carried out another sexual assault just hours earlier in Rajasthan’s Alwar, police have said.Investigators say the suspect, Rahul, travelled to Delhi the morning after the alleged rape in Alwar, entered his former employer’s home in Kailash Hills using a spare key, and went directly to a rooftop study where the 22-year-old victim was present.Police allege he attacked her, strangled her with a mobile phone charging cable and later assaulted her while she was unconscious.Read more: Before south Delhi IRS officer’s daughter’s murder, accused raped his friend’s wife; how events unfolded in Alwar“The investigation suggests that the accused raped the victim while she was still unconscious. He then dragged her down the stairs to another room where a locker was kept, and attempted to open the biometric lock using her fingerprint, but it did not open,” a police official said.He is then accused of breaking open the locker, stealing cash and jewellery, changing his blood-stained clothes and leaving shortly before the victim’s parents returned home.Key details:
- The accused showed no remorse during interrogation, said he attacked her as she didn’t give money; gave no explanation for rape and murder.
- The accused’s father worked in the same office as the woman’s father, got his son to work for the bureaucrat for Rs 20,000 per month.
- Accused saw his dismissal as a humiliation, said he developed a motive for revenge. Money crisis triggered the plan.
- He spent several weeks in his village playing online card games and Ludo after being sacked. Interrogation suggests accused is a pervert, spent salary on prostitutes, had ill-intentions towards the girl while employed.
No remorse during questioning
Police officials said the suspect had shown little remorse during interrogation and had changed his statements multiple times.However, in court, his tone appeared different.“Mujhse apradh ho gaya. Galti ho gayi (I committed a crime, a mistake),” Rahul told Judicial Magistrate Deepika Thakaran, who granted police four days’ custody.Asked about his motive, he said: “Paise ke liye kiya (I did it for money).”The magistrate responded: “So you’re admitting the offence… I am not treating this as a confession.”Also read: ‘Paise ke liye kiya’: Man accused in south Delhi rape-murder case tells court
Familiar with victim’s home
Rahul had worked as a domestic help for the family for about eight months before being dismissed a month ago over alleged financial misconduct.Police say he was familiar with the layout of the house and the family’s routine, including the parents’ morning schedule.They believe he viewed his dismissal as a personal humiliation and may have planned the attack over several weeks while staying in his village in Alwar.
Earlier assault in Alwar
Authorities in Rajasthan say Rahul is also facing a separate rape charge there.According to police, he allegedly entered the home of a woman known to him on Tuesday night and assaulted her while her husband was away at a wedding.“The survivor has undergone a medical examination. We are sharing all the inputs with Delhi Police to fast-track the investigation,” Alwar Superintendent of Police Sudhir Chaudhary said.The woman also alleged that he threatened to kill her if she spoke about the incident.Read more: From friend’s wife in Alwar to IRS officer’s daughter in south Delhi: Rahul’s trail of predatory violence
Forensic findings
A post-mortem examination in the Delhi case found multiple injuries on the victim’s body, including abrasions and a nasal bone fracture.Doctors said the findings were consistent with resistance and confirmed death due to strangulation.“The findings show death due to strangulation following assault. The preserved swabs and nail scrapings have been sent for further analysis to ascertain whether rape took place,” an official said.
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Ongoing investigation
Police are now reconstructing the suspect’s movements from Alwar to Delhi and then to a hotel in Dwarka, where he was arrested.They are also working to recover stolen items, including the victim’s phone, and to establish a complete timeline using CCTV footage.“It is a heinous crime. We are also investigating a similar case against him that took place in Alwar,” prosecutors told the court.Officials say they will also conduct DNA profiling and further forensic analysis as part of the investigation.
