New Delhi police are deepening their investigation into the gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir, uncovering troubling details about the background and actions of the three arrested men.
Key Revelations from the Investigation:
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Pre-Meditation Suspicions: The primary accused, 32-year-old vegetable wholesaler Asif, lived near the park and frequently lurked in its secluded areas. Authorities recovered a pistol, a knife, and condoms from his possession, alongside pornographic videos on his phone.
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Attempt to Destroy Evidence: The other two accused—brothers Hemant (24), an advocate, and Mahesh (24), a final-year BSc Mathematics student—had wiped their phones’ search histories. Following the assault, all three suspects reportedly ate at a local eatery before returning home to Srinivaspuri to wash their clothes in an attempt to destroy forensic evidence.
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Prior Behavioral Red Flags: Police disclosed that Hemant had been expelled from a local gym about a month prior due to multiple complaints from women regarding inappropriate behavior.
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The Modus Operandi: The victim and her 17-year-old friend were targeted after offering prayers for her birthday. The trio tracked them for nearly a kilometer, falsely posing as police personnel (using terms like ‘sir’ to disarm them), separated the friends, and threatened them with a weapon before dragging the victim to secluded spots in the park.
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Lack of Remorse: Investigators noted that the childhood friends have displayed “no remorse” during interrogation, and authorities are now checking past criminal records to see if the group was involved in similar previous attacks in the area.
