Accused in Delhi Murder Linked to Prior Sexual Assault in Rajasthan

Before the heinous crime in south Delhi that left a 22-year-old IRS officer’s daughter dead, the accused had already allegedly crossed another violent line just hours earlier in Rajasthan’s Alwar, setting off a trail of allegations. Police said Rahul first raped his friend’s wife, then travelled to Delhi in an ambulance and reached his former employer’s house in the capital.

Once inside, he is believed to have gone straight to a rooftop study where the woman was present. According to a complaint lodged by the husband of a woman in a village under Rajgarh police limits, Rahul allegedly committed a sexual assault on Tuesday night in Alwar before fleeing the area. The husband stated that he had gone with the accused to attend a wedding in Dholan village around 7.30 pm. While he stayed back, the accused allegedly returned to the village around 10.30 pm, entered the house after getting the latch opened and sexually assaulted his wife before escaping.

The body of a 22-year-old woman was found on Wednesday morning at her residence in south Delhi. The victim, daughter of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was alone at home when the incident allegedly took place, as her parents had gone to a gym. She was allegedly strangled using a mobile charging cable, police said.

According to investigators, the accused was known to the victim’s family. Police said he had previously worked at their residence as domestic help for around eight months and was familiar with the layout of the house. Officials also said the victim’s husband and the accused used to play online Ludo together and were known to each other socially.

Police sources said Rahul travelled from Rajasthan to Delhi by hitching a ride in an ambulance from Alwar. He allegedly left the vehicle without paying Rs 5,000–Rs 6,000 that he had reportedly promised the driver. After reaching Delhi, he is accused of entering the residence where the crime took place.

Police and family members have said the accused was reportedly addicted to online gambling and gaming platforms such as Teen Patti and Ludo. He is alleged to have incurred debts of several lakhs of rupees, almost Rs 7 lakhs. Investigators said financial pressure from friends and lenders may have contributed to his alleged motive to commit theft in Delhi. Police also said he had earlier borrowed money from local shopkeepers and others, leading to disputes over repayment.

Family members described Rahul as academically strong, stating he scored around 73% in Class 10 and 90% in Class 12 (Science stream). They said his gambling habit developed after schooling, and he gradually accumulated losses, reportedly selling or pledging personal belongings including his phone, bike, and documents to fund gaming activities. His father had previously worked in Delhi in a role linked to income tax-related households and through family connections, Rahul was later employed at the IRS officer’s residence. However, after concerns over his conduct and financial disputes, he was removed from the job, according to family members.