Rahul Meena, the 23-year-old accused in the rape and murder of an IRS officer’s Daughter in South East Delhi, was reportedly a bright student who scored 90 per cent for his class 12 board exams. He also scored 73 per cent in his high school exams.
However, the Meena did not follow a Traditional career path and instead drifted into online gambling after graduating from school. His addiction led to him mortgaging his mobile phone, bike and several household items. He reportedly won about Rs 5 lakh in a jackpot in the past.
However, he later began facing massive losses. He was reportedly in debt of around Rs 7 lakh after gambling on sites like Teen Patti and Ludo.
His family arranged a job as a house help for him at the home of the Indian Revenue Service officer in South Delhi after they sensed he was falling into more trouble. His father had previously worked in Delhi including in houses of Income Tax officers through which he got the job, reports say.
He worked at the home for 8 months as domestic help, receiving a salary of about Rs 20,000 along with bonuses. About 6 weeks before the murder, he was dismissed by the family due to his conduct and financial disputes.
He then returned to his native village in Rajasthan's Alwar, where he allegedly spiralled deeper into debt due to gambling and borrowing from multiple sources. On Tuesday, he attended a wedding with his friend and then went to his house. There, he allegedly sexually assaulted his friend's wife and stole a mobile phone.
To avoid being traced, he sold his mobile phone along with two others belonging to family members, and hired a cab to Delhi for Rs 6000. He then went to his former employer’s home on Wednesday morning and then entered the home on the pretext of collecting money. Being familiar with the family’s routine and knowing the parents would be out for a walk, he went straight to the room of the 22-year-old daughter of the IRS officer.
The victim was an IIT graduate and civil service aspirant, and was studying when he entered the home. After the rape and the murder, which took around 40 minutes, he left the house and switched off all his devices.
Police in Delhi have registered cases of rape, murder and robbery. Meanwhile, in Alwar, he has been charged with a separate sexual assault case.