Pune Techie Rape Case: Acquaintance Detained Released and Ordered to Cooperate with Investigation

An acquaintance of a Pune IT professional, initially detained over an alleged rape case, has been released after receiving a notice to cooperate with the investigation. The police had detained the suspect, who was a friend of the woman, casting doubt on her claim that a stranger posing as a courier agent had attacked her.

The police commissioner, Amitesh Kumar, stated there was no evidence of forced entry or use of any spray on the 22-year-old complainant. The selfie in question was consensually taken, and it appears the woman edited the photo and added a threatening message after the man left her residence around 8:30 pm on Wednesday.

Investigation Details and Suspect's Release

The 24-year-old man, identified as a friend of the techie, was released late Friday evening. He received a notice under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), requiring his cooperation with the police and availability for further investigation. Meanwhile, both parties were made to sit face-to-face during the inquiry.

The woman's medical report remains inconclusive, and the alleged rape is still under investigation. She claimed that a man entered her flat in Kondhwa by pretending to be a courier delivery agent and assaulted her. She lost consciousness and found him gone upon waking up.

Discrepancies in Claims

The woman informed the police that before leaving, the man took a selfie with her phone, showing part of his face and her back. He allegedly left a message threatening to release her pictures on social media if she reported the incident. However, police investigations revealed inconsistencies in her account.

Police detained the man from Baner area, confirming he visited with her consent on Wednesday night. "She knew he was coming over and wasn't posing as a courier agent," Kumar said. There was no forced entry or use of spray involved; he was known to her.

Selfie and Message Investigation

Regarding the selfie, it was confirmed that both parties consented to it. "The text message on the photo was created on her phone after he left," Kumar noted. It seems she added the text herself. The investigation continues to determine whether their physical relations were consensual or forceful.

Kumar mentioned that an incorrect narrative suggested an unknown person posed as a courier agent, which proved false. When asked why she filed such a complaint, she cited mental instability as her reason for making false claims.

With inputs from PTI