Accused in Delhi IIT Graduate Murder Linked to Rajasthan Rape Case

A 23-year-old man, Rahul, accused of raping and killing a 22-year-old IIT graduate in Delhi had travelled to the capital by hitching a ride in an ambulance from Rajasthan’s Alwar. According to police, after arriving in Delhi he fled without paying Rs 5,000-6,000 he had promised to the driver. Police believe the journey came just hours after he allegedly committed another violent sexual assault in Alwar on Tuesday night, in which a woman was raped and an attempt was made to strangle her. An FIR has been registered in that case, and police in Rajasthan and Delhi are now working jointly on the investigation.

The accused stopped the ambulance on the highway after the driver agreed to take him to Delhi for Rs 5,000–Rs 6,000. “As it reached near Delhi, he stopped the vehicle, got down, and fled without making any payment,” a Delhi Police officer said.

After reaching Delhi, the accused allegedly targeted the south Delhi residence where he had previously worked as a domestic help. CCTV footage shows him entering the gated premises in Kailash Hills early Wednesday morning. He was later seen leaving the building wearing different clothes and carrying a backpack. Investigators said he was familiar with the layout of the house and security systems, including passcodes and the location of spare keys. “The building had adequate security. Doors on each floor were locked. The man had to open at least four locks to enter the house where the woman was studying. Three of the locks could only be opened through pass codes and one using a key,” a senior officer said. Police said he allegedly used a spare key arrangement he was aware of from his earlier employment. Joint commissioner of Police (Southern Range), Vijay Kumar, said the suspect may also have stolen money from the house. "As we have received information from the complainant, it appears he (accused) may have stolen approximately 2 to 2.5 lakh rupees from the premises. We have also made certain recoveries, details of which we will share with you later," said Kumar.

The victim, a 22-year-old IIT graduate and daughter of a senior IRS officer, was alone at home while her parents had gone to the gym. “When the IRS officer and his wife returned around 8 am, they found their daughter lying unconscious on the floor. She was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital in the NFC area, where doctors declared her brought dead,” Joint Commissioner of Police Vijay Kumar said. Preliminary investigation suggests she was sexually assaulted and then strangled using a mobile charging cable. Police are awaiting the postmortem report to confirm the findings.

Police said CCTV footage from multiple cameras helped trace the accused’s movements. He was seen entering the premises wearing black trousers and a yellow shirt, and leaving later in white trousers with a backpack. Multiple police teams were deployed across Delhi and Rajasthan after his movements were tracked through his mobile phone, which was located in the Palam-Dwarka area. He was eventually arrested from a hotel in Dwarka.

Investigators also confirmed that the accused is facing a separate rape case in Rajasthan’s Alwar, registered hours before the Delhi murder. In that case, the survivor alleged that he forced his way into her house late on Tuesday night, sexually assaulted her, bit her, and attempted to strangle her. He also allegedly threatened to kill her husband and children if she reported the incident. “The survivor’s husband had gone to his village for a wedding, while she stayed back in Alwar with their two children,” the FIR states. Police in Alwar said they received the complaint soon after the incident and registered a case.

Police sources said the accused had been recently removed from the Delhi household after complaints about his conduct and financial behaviour, including borrowing money from other domestic workers. “He was aware of the finances of his former employers in south Delhi, he chose to target them,” a police officer said. Investigators also said he had borrowed money, was involved in online gaming, alcohol and drugs, and was under financial pressure. While resentment over dismissal is being examined as a possible motive, police said the investigation is still ongoing. A case has been registered in Delhi and forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene. Police said they are preparing a “comprehensive chargesheet” and will seek the “strictest possible punishment” for the accused.