IRS officer's daughter raped, strangled at Delhi home; ex-servant suspect
Police said the woman was alone at home when the crime occurred after her parents stepped out in the morning. Her body was later found under suspicious circumstances, following which the police reached the spot.
A 22-year-old woman, daughter of a senior Income Tax Department officer, was found dead at her home in southeast Delhi’s upscale Kailash Hills locality on Wednesday morning, prompting a major police investigation. Preliminary findings suggest she was allegedly sexually assaulted and then strangled using a mobile phone charging cable.
According to police, the victim was alone at home when the incident occurred, as her parents were at the gym. The body was later discovered under suspicious circumstances, following which police teams rushed to the spot. Police, forensic, and crime teams are currently examining the scene in detail.
Investigators suspect the involvement of a former servant, namely Rahul Meena, 19, who had been dismissed around six weeks ago. Sources revealed that he had worked at the house for nearly eight months before being fired, following alleged complaints of financial misconduct.
The suspicion has deepened after the accused was reportedly spotted on a nearby CCTV camera at around 6:00 am on Wednesday. Police believe he may have been waiting and entered the house after the parents left.
Meena was familiar with the layout of the house and the daily routine of the family members, including alleged knowledge that the victim's parents would step out for their gym sessions or walk in the morning, news agency PTI reported. Sources indicated that he knew a key was typically kept outside the house for servants, and he may have used the same to enter the house.
Sources further indicated that the victim put up strong resistance, following which the accused allegedly struck her on the head with a stick to subdue her before strangling her with the charging cable. The victim, an engineering graduate preparing for the UPSC civil services examination, is believed to have been targeted during a period when the house was relatively unoccupied. Investigators say the timing may have been deliberate, as other household staff usually arrive later in the day.
Initial forensic findings point to strangulation using a wire, suspected to be the mobile charging cable recovered from the scene. The victim's body was found lying on the floor, with some items scattered throughout the floor. While there are indications of sexual assault, official confirmation is awaited pending medical reports.
Rahul Meena is a native of Rajasthan, and he remains on the run. Multiple police teams have been formed to track him, and CCTV footage from surrounding areas is being analysed to trace his movements.
Meanwhile, a Delhi Police team has already gone to the accused's home in Rajasthan's Alwar. There, they discovered that he was involved in a separate molestation case on Tuesday. Police said that he had come to Delhi directly after that.
A case of rape, murder and robbery has been registered. Further investigation is underway as authorities work to establish the sequence of events and catch the accused. Police also said they have detained two people, a car cleaner in the area, and a house help in the neighbourhood, for questioning.