Delhi IRS Officer’s Daughter Murder: Police Files 973-Page Chargesheet Against Ex-Help, DNA & CCTV Evidence Nail Accused
Delhi Police files a 973-page chargesheet against former domestic help Rahul Meena in the rape and murder case of an IRS officer's daughter, relying on DNA, CCTV and forensic evidence
Delhi Police has filed a 973-page chargesheet before a Delhi court against Rahul Meena, the former domestic help accused of raping and murdering the 22-year-old daughter of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer at the family's East of Kailash residence in April this year.
The chargesheet was filed on Thursday following the completion of the investigation by the Amar Colony Police Station.
The victim, an IIT graduate preparing for the Civil Services Examination, was found dead at her Kailash Hills residence on April 22, after her parents returned home from a gym.
According to the prosecution, Meena, who had been dismissed from his employment in February over alleged financial misconduct, entered the house using his knowledge of a spare key kept on the premises. Police alleged that he raped the victim and strangled her with a mobile phone charging cable after she resisted his demand for money.
Investigators alleged that the accused fled after stealing between ₹5 lakh and ₹7 lakh in cash and changing into the victim's brother's clothes.
Scientific Evidence forms Backbone of Chargesheet
Delhi Police stated that the chargesheet relies extensively on forensic and scientific evidence.
According to investigators, fingerprints, palm prints and thumb impressions recovered from the crime scene matched those of the accused. DNA profiling also allegedly established a conclusive match between Meena's DNA and the biological evidence collected during the investigation.
Police said the investigation was supported by expert examinations conducted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Exhibits collected from the crime scene were examined by the Physics, Chemistry and Biology divisions of the CFSL, with the forensic reports corroborating the prosecution's case.
Crime Scene recreated, CCTV Footage Analysed
Investigators also recreated the crime scene in the presence of CFSL experts. Sequential photography and videography documenting the accused's alleged entry, movement inside the residence and exit were conducted, while the reconstruction footage was examined through gait-pattern analysis.
The Behavioural Analysis Interview (BAI) and Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) of the accused were also conducted during the investigation.
Police further analysed footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras, which allegedly traced the accused entering the residential complex at around 6:30 am and leaving at approximately 7:20 am on the day of the incident.
Meena was arrested later the same day from a hotel in Dwarka. Police claimed the entire stolen amount was recovered at his instance.
Investigation Traced financial motive
During the investigation, police questioned a large number of witnesses, including neighbours, security guards, domestic workers, labourers, drivers, sweepers and local transport operators. Teams were also dispatched to Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and different parts of Delhi to verify leads and reconstruct the accused's movements.
According to police, the investigation revealed that Meena had accumulated debts of ₹5 lakh to ₹7 lakh through online gambling.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly stated that he had entered the house intending to seek money and that the crime "just happened."
The prosecution has cited 82 witnesses, and statements under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were recorded during the investigation.
Police maintained that the combination of CCTV footage, forensic examination, DNA profiling, fingerprint analysis, behavioural assessment, crime scene reconstruction and recovery of the stolen property establishes a complete chain of evidence against the accused.
Background of the Case
The accused was initially remanded to police custody after his arrest. On April 27, following completion of police interrogation, the Saket court had sent him to seven days’ judicial custody.
The 22-year-old victim, an engineering graduate, was found critically injured at her residence. According to investigators, she was allegedly strangled using a mobile phone charger and sustained head injuries inflicted with a heavy object. She was rushed to a hospital by her parents, who had returned home from the gym, but later succumbed to her injuries.
Police said Meena had worked as a domestic help with the family for nearly a year before being dismissed a few weeks ago. Preliminary findings suggest that he was under financial distress, reportedly due to debts arising from online betting.
Officials indicated that a possible personal grudge may have been a motive, though the investigation is also exploring whether the crime was initially intended as theft. The accused allegedly ransacked an almirah and decamped with approximately Rs. 2 lakh in cash, which has since been recovered.
[Inputs: PTI]