Indian American hired hitman to kill rape victim

An Indian-origin man accused of raping a New York University law student tried to hire an undercover police officer to kill his victim in exchange for $15,000.

Rajeev Kumar was charged with rape and sodomy in August, after a DNA match linked him to a 10-year-old assault on the student. The 30-year-old is currently in jail serving a five-year probation sentence for an insurance scam, but has denied the sex assault charge.

According to the New York Daily News, Kumar’s scheme to silence his accuser was blown open in a NYPD undercover operation, in which he is believed to have said that he would pay $15,000 for the rubout.

The NYPD carried out the operation following tip-off that Kumar had told fellow inmates at Rikers Islands that he would pay for someone to ‘get rid of his problem’. 

The undercover police officer revealed that Kumar didn’t know where the rape victim lived, but he knew what school she graduated from and had her photograph.

It is believed that the photograph was provided to defence lawyer Nelson Schmukler in an evidence file.

Kumar’s inmate information page on the department of correction website confirmed that he is now charged with conspiracy in the first degree.