A 35-year-old cab driver in Delhi allegedly kidnapped a minor girl, raped her, murdered her, and then hid her body under a pile of stones before resuming his duties and picking up another passenger, police said on Tuesday.
Arrest and Charges
The accused, identified as Rajesh Singh, was arrested from the Najafgarh area of southwest Delhi on Monday night. He has been charged with kidnapping, rape, and murder under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. According to investigators, Singh, a native of Bihar who is married and has children there, had allegedly consumed marijuana before the crime.
Sequence of Events
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the 14-year-old victim was waiting for a bus near her home in Dwarka. Singh, who was driving a private cab, allegedly offered her a ride and then took her to a secluded spot in Najafgarh. There, he raped her and then strangled her to death. He then hid her body under stones and bushes before leaving the area and picking up another passenger for a fare.
Investigation and Discovery
The girl's parents filed a missing person complaint late Sunday night. Police tracked her last known location using mobile tower data and CCTV footage, which led them to Singh's cab. During interrogation, Singh confessed to the crime and led police to the spot where he had hidden the body. The body was recovered on Monday evening and sent for post-mortem.
Legal Proceedings
Singh was produced before a local court on Tuesday and remanded to police custody for four days. Police are investigating whether he has a criminal history. “We are verifying his background and checking if he has been involved in any similar incidents in the past,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Devendra Kumar.
