A posh south Delhi neighborhood – Kailash Hills – has made headlines due to the shocking details and series of events related to the rape and murder of a 22-year-old woman by a former domestic help, who had allegedly raped another woman hours before the crime took place in the national capital.
The victim, an Indian Institute of Technology graduate who was preparing for the civil services exam, was found by her parents when they returned from the gym at around 8am on Wednesday. Her father is a government employee. Her mother is a dentist. Her 25-year-old brother lives and works in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Police arrest 23-year-old former domestic help – identified as Rahul Meena – Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested the accused, who allegedly strangled the victim with a portable charger cable. The accused allegedly raped another woman in Alwar, Rajasthan just hours before committing the Delhi crime.
Police suspect that the Delhi crime stems from the accused’s grudge against the family due to his release from service two months ago.
Shocking details in the Kailash Hills case
Delhi rape and murder: An earlier HT report quoted police as saying that Meena was seen on Wednesday in Kailash district around 6.30 am on CCTV footage. He was again spotted on CCTV footage leaving the house at around 7.15am, they added. Joint CP Kumar said he changed his pants and shoes before leaving. According to an investigator, Mena spent about 40 minutes inside, where he allegedly raped and strangled the victim to death, then fled with cash and valuables in a black backpack.
Motives for the Delhi crime: During initial interrogation, it came to light that the motive behind the rape, murder and robbery might also be “revenge or grudge he had against the family for letting him go, but we will confirm that after detailed interrogation,” an officer told HT. According to the officer, 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 neighbors.
– Another rape hours before the Delhi crime: The investigation revealed that Meena had raped another woman in Alwar, Rajasthan, a few hours before committing the Delhi crime, and that his addiction to online gambling may have driven him home in an attempt to rob her on Wednesday morning.
-Rape of an acquaintance’s wife in Alwar: According to police familiar with the case, Delhi Police found out about the other alleged rape when they reached Alwar to arrest him. Officials said Meena traveled overnight to Delhi by hiring a truck and then came directly home. When the Delhi Police team reached Alwar on Wednesday morning, they were informed that the police received a complaint around 10 pm on Tuesday from a woman – the wife of Meena’s acquaintance – alleging that he had raped her that night.
Rape of a woman during her husband’s absence: The complainant alleged that the accused, a friend of her husband, came to her house late on Tuesday night while her husband was attending a wedding and sexually assaulted her, Alwar Superintendent of Police Sudhir Chaudhary said. Alwar police said the accused and the woman’s husband were “associated with gambling activities”.
How did he reach Delhi? Investigators said Meena left Alwar soon after filing the complaint and headed to Delhi. He allegedly sold one of his phones for $10,000, rented a truck, and promised to pay the driver $6000 per trip. “However, he reached Delhi and got off the truck without paying the driver,” an officer said. Joint Commissioner of Police (South Range) Vijay Kumar said he entered the house at around 6.39 am, when he killed the 22-year-old.
-I entered the Delhi house despite the strong security system: According to a senior police officer, the house had what the family described as a “strong” security system, with a digital lock on the main door on the third floor, a steel gate before entering the floor via the stairs, and another door outside the elevator on the third floor. The steel door could only be opened using a smart card but there was one loophole.
– The accused knew that the smart card was hidden: When the couple left for the gym, they would leave the door outside the elevator open and take their smart card for their return entry and hide one outside the house to aid entry, ensuring their daughter was not disturbed while she slept, an officer said. All the home helpers – including Meena – knew where the smart card was hidden. “They kept one smart key outside the main door for assistance, and they all knew where it was,” the officer said. Mina was aware of the couple’s routine and the position of the key.
What residents said: Residents of the area confirmed that Mina contacted several people to obtain money. A vegetable seller working on the same street said: “He also asked me for money, but I refused. I did not give him vegetables on credit unless he made me talk to my employer.”
– Postmortem autopsy: An autopsy conducted later on Wednesday confirmed that the victim had been sexually assaulted; Strangulation was established as the cause of death. The body was then handed over to the family for the last rites.
