Lonavla rape case: A week after FIR, cops clueless about identity of suspect

The Pune rural police are clueless about the identity of the suspect who allegedly raped and assaulted a 29-year-old employee of a multinational corporation (MNC) at Aamby Valley resort in Lonavla on December 10.

The police had registered a first information report (FIR) against the suspect on December 13, after the victim lodged a complaint at the Paud police station. The victim was among the 270 employees of the MNC who were at the resort for a conference organised by the company. The suspect allegedly raped the victim twice and assaulted her between 12.30 am and 3.30 am on December 10, due to which she fell unconscious.

The Pune rural police formed four teams to nab the suspect. About 15 people have been questioned. But even a week after the lodging of the FIR, the suspect is yet to be arrested.

“The probe process must be stepped up and the culprit arrested immediately,” demanded Shiv Sena MLC and  party spokesperson, Neelam Gorhe, while talking to reporters on Sunday. According to her, the police should collect samples of the DNA of the victim and of those under suspicion.

Gorhe, who raised the issue on the floor of the house during the recently concluded session of the legislative assembly in Nagpur, said the suspect might have been in possession of another key to the room where the crime was committed. 

“The suspect might be a history sheeter and might have done such crimes in the past,” she said and questioned the security at the resort. “The incident has once again proved how vulnerable women are in Pune,” she added.

However, the Pune rural superintendent of police, Pratap Dighavkar, denied that the police are clueless. He said the probe is moving in the right direction. “We will crack the case, although it is taking a little time,” he said.

The MNC on Saturday handed over a list of company employees who took part in the event at the resort to the Pune rural police as sought by them.

The police sources said there were bloodstains on the victim’s clothes, which have been sent for forensic examination. “We have started collecting DNA samples of the staff present at the resort on the day of the incident,” the police sources added.

According to the investigating officers, while committing the crime, the suspect used abusive language. “We are asking all those questioned to repeat the same abusive language and are recording it. The victim is hearing the recordings to identify the suspect,” the police sources said.