Gurgaon Food Vendor Abducts Woman from Popular Aravali Picnic Spot
In a shocking incident that unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, a 25-year-old food vendor allegedly abducted a 23-year-old woman from Leopard Trail, a well-known picnic spot nestled in the Aravali hills of Gurgaon. The accused, identified as Gaurav Bhati, reportedly shoved the victim into a borrowed Mahindra Scorpio and embarked on a frantic drive across the city, with police teams in hot pursuit.
Chaotic Abduction at Leopard Trail
The terrifying sequence of events began late on Saturday night when the woman, accompanied by a male colleague, drove to Leopard Trail. They arrived at the secluded location around 1:30 AM and spent approximately an hour and a half there. According to police sources, Bhati allegedly began harassing the duo while they were seated in their car. When confronted, the situation escalated into a heated argument.
During the altercation, Bhati is accused of snatching the woman's mobile phone and sprinting toward the Scorpio he was operating. As she gave chase in an attempt to retrieve her device, he reportedly grabbed her, forced her into the SUV, locked the doors, and sped away. Her colleague tried to intervene but was pushed aside by the assailant.
City-Wide Police Pursuit and Dramatic Rescue
The quick-thinking colleague immediately alerted police authorities, providing crucial details about Bhati's vehicle. Law enforcement officials swiftly tracked the Scorpio using the woman's phone location data. Sources indicate that Bhati drove erratically through various parts of Gurgaon, including Southern Peripheral Road, Subhash Chowk, and Sector 74, before heading toward a remote, forested hilly area.
The pursuit came to an abrupt end approximately an hour after the abduction when the borrowed Scorpio became stuck in mud at Pandala village. As the vehicle stalled on the rugged terrain, the woman screamed for help, prompting Bhati to abandon both the SUV and his victim before fleeing on foot. Police teams promptly reached the location and rescued the traumatized woman.
Swift Investigation and Arrest
Investigators traced the Scorpio's registration details to its owner, another food vendor who revealed that Bhati had borrowed the vehicle under the pretext of purchasing liquor. Three specialized police teams were mobilized to track down the accused, leading to his arrest within hours of the incident.
A forensic team meticulously examined the crime scene, collecting vital evidence while authorities analyzed location data to reconstruct the precise sequence of events. Medical examination confirmed that Bhati was intoxicated during the commission of the crime.
Additional Charges and Custodial Incident
When police took Bhati back to the hills for crime scene recreation, he allegedly attempted to escape custody. During this bid to flee, he tripped and fell on the uneven terrain, sustaining a fracture to his right leg and facial injuries. He was subsequently hospitalized under police supervision.
Following medical treatment, Bhati was produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody. Initially, an FIR was registered against him under BNS sections 137(2) for kidnapping and 304(2) for snatching. Police have since added charges related to custodial escape and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their official duties.
Authorities are currently awaiting the woman's magisterial statement before potentially adding sexual assault charges to the case. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to build a comprehensive case against the accused.
