Special Correspondent
Pune: A shocking twist has emerged in the Kondhwa rape case involving a young female engineer. The Pune Police, who detained the accused on Friday morning, have revealed that the person is not a courier delivery boy as initially alleged, but a friend of the victim. The complainant had concealed this fact while filing the FIR, misleading the police during the preliminary investigation.
The case had sparked citywide outrage earlier this week when the woman claimed she was raped by a delivery executive who allegedly used a knockout spray before assaulting her. The incident triggered protests from women’s rights organizations questioning the safety of women in urban residential societies. In response, Pune Police had deployed as many as 22 investigation teams to crack the case swiftly.
During the course of the investigation, the police discovered that the viral selfie with the caption “Main Wapas Aunga” (I will come back), believed to have been taken by the alleged assailant, was in fact edited by the complainant herself using a mobile app. She has since confessed to digitally altering the photo and adding the caption. However, she remains firm on her statement that the young man attempted to sexually assault her.
According to senior police officials, the accused is a professional working in a senior position at a reputed multinational company. He has reportedly been in regular contact with the woman for over a year, and the two had met during a social gathering of their community. Their communication had continued over phone calls and social media platforms. Police confirmed that he had previously visited her residence multiple times.
CCTV footage from the housing society on the night of the alleged assault shows the accused entering the premises around 7:15 p.m. and exiting at approximately 8:45 p.m. Contrary to the woman’s claim that she did not know the man, investigators found multiple instances of food orders placed by the accused for the woman through popular delivery apps. The accused also stated that he visited her home that evening upon her invitation.
Moreover, WhatsApp conversations recovered from the man’s phone corroborate his version of events, showing that the two had been in communication and had planned to meet. The technical analysis of the woman’s phone also revealed that she had fabricated part of the evidence presented in her initial complaint.
Despite these developments, police are continuing their investigation under sections related to sexual assault. Forensic evidence, digital communications, and witness statements are being closely examined. The police have neither ruled out the possibility of an assault nor dismissed the possibility of a false implication.
The case, while now shrouded in complexity, underscores the importance of thorough investigation in cases involving sensitive allegations and public outrage. The police have appealed for calm and have requested the media and public to avoid speculating or spreading misinformation until the full facts are established.
