A cop posing as a social worker, woman from Odisha as a nurse: How Delhi Police cracked mentally ill woman’s gangrape case

Police said it took them several days to gain the woman’s trust before she revealed information about the assault.

What followed were weeks of exhaustive investigation and CCTV surveillance before they tracked down the first accused — Mahto — and arrested him on October 30. Subsequently, they arrested a scrap shop owner, Parmod (32), and a physically challenged beggar, Mohammad Shamsul (29), on November 2 and 4 respectively.

After they found the woman on the streets, police said they shifted her to AIIMS Trauma Centre early on October 11. The woman, who holds a Master’s in Social Work, revealed to doctors that she had been sexually assaulted by three strangers, said police.

How case was cracked

According to police, the most challenging part of the probe was to get details from the victim due to her mental condition. “We had to get special permission from the management staff of AIIMS Trauma Centre. A woman officer, Constable Sangeeta, took cover as a social worker, while an Odia woman took cover as a nurse — they were assigned to take care of the victim to build trust and gather crucial information from her,” explained Ravi Kumar Singh, DCP (Southeast).

DCP Singh said Constable Sangeeta won over the woman’s trust gradually and was able to gain minimal but very crucial details from the victim — the involvement of three people, one of them being physically disabled, and an autorickshaw.

Police said the victim was active in community development and worked for various organisations in Odisha.

“She reached Delhi in May and initially stayed with an acquaintance. However, as her mental health worsened, she left her friend’s house and began taking temporary shelter in public spaces such as bus stops, railway stations, and foot overbridges. Eventually, she severed all contact with her family,” said the officer.

The police team, meanwhile, created an extensive map of the woman’s potential route and scrutinised footage from CCTVs across key locations. “Through CCTV, the victim was seen exiting the Old Delhi Railway station waiting hall on October 10 at 10.14 am. The team then analysed over 700 cameras installed in over 25 locations. More than 150 suspected autorickshaws were also verified,” said DCP Singh.

The breakthrough came when police identified the vehicle in question, officers said.

On questioning, the accused revealed the details of the crime, police said. “On October 10, Parmod, reportedly in an inebriated condition, after closing his shop encountered the victim sitting nearby. He was soon joined by Shamsul,” said an officer part of the investigation.

Police said Parmod and Shamsul, realising that the victim was an easy target, allegedly dragged her to an isolated location and sexually assaulted her. Mahto also joined the two in the crime and they abandoned the woman near Sarai Kale Khan, they added.

Police have confiscated Mahto’s autorickshaw and recovered key pieces of evidence, including blood-stained clothing and clothes worn by the accused at the time of the incident.

Investigators said Mahto came to Delhi two months ago, leaving behind his family, including seven children, in Bihar while Parmod moved from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi at a young age. Shamsul was disabled by polio and resorted to begging after losing his parents in childhood.

The victim, who continues to receive treatment at AIIMS, faces a long road to recovery, police said.

Police have booked the three men under charges of BNS 70(1) (gangrape) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing harm).