Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 25: In a major development in the rape and murder of a 22-year-old woman in Delhi, investigators have identified the person the accused Rahul Meena was speaking to while fleeing the crime scene.

According to police, Rahul was on a phone call with his cousin Trilok when he exited the residence in Amar Colony, as seen in CCTV footage. During the call, he allegedly confessed, saying he had committed a crime in Delhi and feared being caught by police.

The victim, daughter of a senior Income Tax officer, was found dead at her residence in Kailash Hills. Her parents discovered her lying in a pool of blood when they returned home.

Investigators have revealed that the accused committed two crimes within a span of nearly 12 hours across states. On Tuesday night, he allegedly entered a house in Alwar, Rajasthan, assaulted and raped a woman, and threatened her before fleeing. An FIR was registered based on the survivor’s complaint.

Within hours, Rahul travelled nearly 200 km to Delhi and entered his former employer’s house around 6.39 am, using his familiarity with the premises.

Police said he attacked the victim with a lamp and another object, strangled her and allegedly sexually assaulted her. He then dragged the body downstairs, attempted to open a locker using her finger, and later broke it open. Cash and jewellery were stolen before he fled after changing clothes.

The postmortem conducted at AIIMS Delhi confirmed strangulation as the cause of death. Multiple injuries, including abrasions and a nasal fracture, indicated a violent struggle. Forensic analysis to confirm sexual assault is still underway.

Police have recovered over Rs 1 lakh in cash and jewellery from a hotel in Dwarka where the accused had checked in using stolen money. CCTV footage tracked his movements from the crime scene to the hotel, leading to his arrest.

Investigators said Rahul was involved in online betting and had significant financial debts. His motive is suspected to be linked to financial distress, though police are probing all angles.

Rahul had earlier worked as a domestic help at the victim’s house but was dismissed due to irregularities linked to his betting habits.

Police sources described him as having a violent disposition and noted that he showed little remorse during questioning. He is currently in custody and will be taken to reconstruct the crime scenes in both Rajasthan and Delhi.

Further investigation is ongoing.