Three months after the rape and murder of a 22-year-old UPSC aspirant in South Delhi shocked the nation, Delhi police have filed a 973-page chargesheet against the accused, Rahul Meena. The chargesheet made public Thursday on the investigation into the alleged rape, murder and robbery of the young woman, daughter of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. The Saket Court is expected to take up the matter on July 18.
Rahul Meena, a former domestic worker who had worked for the victim’s family, was charged with sexually assaulting and murdering the woman in a Kailash Hills home in South Delhi, the police said on April 22. Police say Meena, who was a domestic worker for the victim's family, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting and murdering the woman after she resisted his demands for money.
The chargesheet said that the accused demanded cash from the victim before assaulting her. After the alleged rape and murder he is accused of stealing between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh from the house. Investigators say he changed into the clothes of the victim’s brother and rushed away in an attempt to get rid of the police.
The 973-page chargesheet includes forensic evidence, DNA analysis, CCTV footage, witness testimonies and technical reports collected during the investigation. The fingerprints, palm prints and thumb impressions allegedly matched those of the accused. DNA evidence also linked Meena directly to the crime.
Investigators have listed 82 witnesses to support the prosecution’s case. The evidence includes CCTV footage that they’ve said showed the accused in and out of the residential complex on the day of the incident. Meena was arrested the same day after examining surveillance footage and gathering preliminary evidence.
Police also examined the accused’s financial status at the time and contended that he had accrued debts through online gaming and gambling and could have been behind the robbery.
The victim was preparing for the prestigious Civil Services Examination (UPSC) and was well-known to be bright. She was the daughter of a senior IRS officer and a dentist. The crime was shocking to the whole country and the accused had previously been a domestic help for the family and the case raised concern about trust, household security and crimes by known people.
With the release of the chargesheet the investigation is now in a very critical stage. The Saket Court will evaluate the chargesheet and supporting evidence during the next hearing. If the court finds sufficient grounds for charges, formal charges will be framed against the accused and the trial will take place.
The case has been of much public interest as the victim's family strives for justice for the young UPSC aspirant whose life was tragically cut short. In court proceedings next week, prosecutors are likely to depend on forensic evidence, CCTV footage and witness statements in the chargesheet to help in the prosecution's case against Rahul Meena.
