Delhi rape and murder case: Accused Meena’s family says he is innocent

A day after Rahul Meena, a 23-year-old man from Rajasthan, was arrested for the alleged rape and murder of an IRS officer’s daughter in Delhi, residents of his native village in Alwar said the accusations did not match the person they knew.

The family members and the villagers described Rahul Meena as a quite person with good behaviour and studious. Meena is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Rajasthan within hours of the Delhi crime. They have denied the allegations, insisting he had no history of violent behaviour and attributing his recent troubles to financial stress linked to online gaming.

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Speaking to reporters in Alwar, Meena’s mother said she last spoke to him on the night of April 21, when he had left to attend a wedding. “I spoke to him that night, and after that, we could not contact him. The next day, police came and informed us about the incident,” she said, adding that the family was unaware of his movements thereafter.

One of his uncles said Rahul was “good in studies” and had secured good marks in graduation.

Family denies allegations

Denying the rape allegation reported from Rajgarh in Alwar, Meena’s sister called it “completely false.” She claimed that a financial dispute linked to online gaming may have been the reason for levelling the allegation and behind his visit to the residence of an IRS officer in Delhi.

She alleged that Meena and the Rajgarh victim’s husband had incurred losses, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 90,000, respectively, while playing an online game, leading to mounting debt and pressure to repay money.

Also read: Ex-help raped Alwar woman before killing IRS officer's daughter in Delhi: Police

“He had gone to recover money as he was being pressured,” she said, adding that he had even pawned his mobile phone for Rs 20,000. “If Meena has done wrong, then he should be punished,” the sister added.

Further, villagers said Meena was a quiet person who completed his BA with first division in 2023, but developed an online gambling habit soon after.

‘Intention was to steal money’

Domestic help Rahul Meena, accused of raping and killing his former employer’s daughter in Delhi, told police he had intended only to steal money and had not planned to kill.

During interrogation, Meena claimed that he had entered a senior IRS officer’s house in South Delhi’s Kailash Hills to steal money. When asked why he attacked the victim, he said, “I came with the intent of stealing money and jewellery. But didi started shouting, resisting, and stopping me. I hit her with a lamp, and she fell unconscious.”

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He repeatedly told investigators, “Main maarna nahi chahta tha par ho gaya (I didn’t want to kill her, but it just happened).”

Investigators say Meena has shown little remorse and has changed his statements multiple times during questioning.

According to police, Meena is also accused of raping a woman in Rajasthan’s Alwar district on the night of April 21 and, hours later, allegedly committing the rape and murder in Delhi.

FIR registered

Officials said the accused was known to the Delhi family, where he had earlier worked as a domestic help before being removed from the job. The position had been arranged by his maternal uncle. He was dismissed after the family learned about his online gaming habit and alleged misappropriation of money.

Police said an FIR has been registered in the Alwar case under sections related to rape, causing hurt and criminal intimidation, and the victim’s statement is being recorded.

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Sources said Meena allegedly left a wedding midway on the night of April 21 before committing the crime in Alwar. He was arrested the following night in connection with the Delhi case.

Police had briefly detained some of his family members for questioning, but they have since been released.

Officials said Meena remains in the custody of Delhi Police, and further investigation is underway in both cases, including the circumstances leading to the incidents.

(With agency inputs)