Woman drugged and raped by e-rickshaw driver in Delhi, accused arrested

A 25-year-old woman was allegedly drugged, raped and robbed by an e-rickshaw driver, police said on Thursday.

In this case, the police have arrested Mohammad Umer (24) from the Kotwali district in north Delhi.

“On May 26, Kotali police station received a PCR call about a robbery. A team was sent to the scene. A woman was found injured and bleeding profusely. Her three-year-old son was sitting next to her,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Manoj Kumar Meena.

The woman, a resident of Bihar, was taken to a hospital where she underwent medical examination, he said.

According to police, the woman was travelling from Bihar to Punjab with her three-year-old son to meet her husband.

On May 26, she got down from the train to New Delhi railway station and went to Sadar Market. When she returned to the station by e-rickshaw, the driver allegedly offered her something to drink, following which she lost consciousness, the DCP said.

“According to her statement, the rickshaw driver took her to a remote area where he raped her. When she protested against the act and tried to raise an alarm, the rickshaw driver hit her on the head with a brick,” said Meena.

“She fainted again and when she regained consciousness, she found that her mobile phone and Rs 3,000 in cash were missing,” he said.

“We have formed a team and started investigating the matter. They have analysed about 500 CCTV footage and located a battery rickshaw,” he added.

A manhunt was launched to identify and arrest the accused. Around 150 rickshaw owners were checked. On May 29, Umer was arrested. Police recovered the woman’s mobile phone and the rickshaw used in the crime, Meena said.

Umer had previously been involved in a robbery, he said.

Police said an FIR has been lodged under sections 376 (rape), 308 (attempt to cause wilful killing), 328 (causing hurt with poison etc. with intent to commit offence) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is underway, he added.