It was an ordinary day, as a couple left their luxurious home in South Delhi for their morning exercise routine, only to find their daughter dead when they returned. The investigation revealed that she had also been raped. The house had a strong security system but a major hidden loophole helped the accused to enter and commit the crime on Wednesday morning.
The victim, a 22-year-old IIT graduate and civil services aspirant, was allegedly raped and strangled with a mobile phone charging cable on Wednesday morning by a 23-year-old former domestic help who wanted to avenge his dismissal from the service two months ago.
An investigation into the case led to more horrific details, including the alleged rape of another woman in Alwar, Rajasthan, by the man hours before the Delhi crime.
He was helped to enter the house in Delhi by his knowledge of the smart card that the victim’s father, a government employee, and her mother, a dentist, used to hide it while they were leaving for the gym, so he could help enter the house, to ensure that their daughter had a peaceful sleep.
The accused knew about the hidden key
According to a senior police officer cited in an earlier HT report, the house had what the family described as a “robust” security system, with a digital lock on the main door of the third floor, a steel gate before entering the floor via the stairs, and another door outside the lift on the third floor.
The steel door can only be opened with a smart card.
When the couple left for the gym, they would leave the door outside the elevator open, take their smart card to get in, and hide one outside the house so aides could enter, ensuring their daughter was not disturbed while she slept, an officer was quoted as saying.
All the home helpers – including Meena – knew where the smart card was hidden.
“They kept one smart key outside the main door for help and they all knew where it was,” the officer said, adding that Meena was aware of the couple’s routine and the location of the key.
Police said Meena was seen on Wednesday in Kailash Hills area at around 6.30 am on CCTV footage, as per an earlier HT report.
They added that Meena was again seen in CCTV footage leaving the house at around 7.15am. Joint CP Kumar said he changed his pants and shoes before leaving.
According to an investigator, Mina was inside the home for approximately 40 minutes, where he allegedly raped and strangled the victim to death, then fled with cash and valuables in a black backpack.
Police said the crime may have been caused by the accused’s grudge after he was released from service two months ago. The police have not yet confirmed this matter.
According to one of the officers, the victim’s 55-year-old father told them that the suspect had been working for the family for about 10 months before he was fired two months ago due to his habit of borrowing small amounts from neighbours.
