A 23-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a 22-year-old woman, the daughter of an Indian Revenue Service officer, at her residence in southeast Delhi on Wednesday, appeared before a judicial magistrate on Thursday and reportedly said, “Mujhse apraadh ho gaya ma’am... galti ho gayi (I have committed a crime, ma’am… I made a mistake).”
Accused Confesses to Money Motive
The accused, a former domestic help of the family and a native of Alwar, Rajasthan, also told the court that he committed the crime for money. He allegedly dragged the bleeding and unconscious victim downstairs to obtain her fingerprints. The purpose, according to the prosecution, was to open a biometric cash locker that could only be accessed through the fingerprints of either the officer, his wife, or the daughter.
Police Custody Granted
The court sent the accused to four-day police custody after the prosecution argued that the investigation was at an initial stage and required a detailed probe. During the hearing before Judicial Magistrate First Class Deepika Thakran at Saket Court, the magistrate noted injuries on the accused as per his medico-legal case (MLC). When asked about them, the accused claimed he sustained the injuries while getting off the terrace.
“Which terrace?” the magistrate asked, prompting the accused to say he had made a mistake. When questioned about the motive behind such a “mistake,” he replied, “Paise ke liye kiya (I did it for money).” The magistrate clarified, “So you’re admitting the offence... I am not treating this as a confession.”
Similar Case in Alwar
Seeking custody, the prosecution said, “It is a heinous crime. We are also investigating a similar case against him that took place in Alwar.” Just hours before the Delhi crime, the man had allegedly barged into a woman’s house in Alwar, raped her, and attempted to strangle her. Police also emphasized the need to determine whether the accused had accomplices.
The defence opposed the four-day custody plea as “exorbitant,” but the magistrate observed that the matter was at an “initial stage” and required detailed investigation, including scientific examination of the crime scene.
