Delhi murder accused pawned marksheet to feed gambling habit

Rahul Meena, a 23-year-old man arrested for the rape and murder of an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer’s daughter in Delhi, was once regarded by his family as a bright student who scored 90 per cent in Class 12 and 73 per cent in Class 10. However, both his family and the police say the Rajasthan native later developed an addiction to online gambling through mobile games such as Teen Patti and Ludo, and began raising money by mortgaging or selling personal belongings, including his marksheet, mobile phone, bike and household items.

Police allege that mounting debts and pressure to repay loans drove Meena back to Delhi's Amar Colony, where he is accused of entering the home of his former employer, an IRS officer, and raping and killing the officer’s 22-year-old daughter before fleeing with cash and jewellery. The case has also been linked to a rape complaint filed hours earlier in Rajasthan’s Alwar, though Meena’s family claims that allegation is false and stems from a financial dispute involving one of his friends. They said they never expected him to commit murder, but added that if he did, he should face the strictest punishment.

According to his family, Meena excelled in studies and completed Class 12 in the science stream. They said his gambling habit began around that time and worsened steadily. As his losses mounted, he started pawning personal belongings to continue playing. Family members claimed he mortgaged or sold items ranging from his marksheet and phone to his bike and household goods.

The family said Meena’s father had previously worked in Delhi, including in houses of Income Tax officers. Through these contacts, Meena later secured work at the home of the IRS officer whose daughter was killed. He had been employed there for about eight months and was familiar with the house layout.

Police said his gambling continued during his time in Delhi, with Meena allegedly losing large sums and borrowing money from shopkeepers and locals. He is also accused of cheating the family while running errands, including taking money for medicines but failing to pay shopkeepers and instead purchasing items on credit. After complaints about his conduct reached the officer’s family, he was dismissed from the job.

Meena returned to his village around one-and-a-half months ago, telling his family he was on leave and had arranged a replacement. Even then, he continued gambling online. His family claimed that days before the Delhi incident, he had won Rs 5 lakh, after which friends encouraged him to play using their accounts. They allege he subsequently incurred losses and came under pressure to repay the money, which prompted him to travel to Delhi with the intention of stealing.

The family also disputed the rape case registered against him in Rajgarh, alleging it was linked to a financial dispute with a friend. Police records, however, show that an FIR was registered in Alwar based on the survivor’s complaint.

According to the police, the Alwar incident occurred around 10.30 pm on April 21, when Meena allegedly entered his neighbour’s house, assaulted and raped her and threatened her with dire consequences if she spoke out. Investigators said he then travelled nearly 200 km to Delhi, reaching a South Delhi housing society at around 6.30 am the next morning. CCTV footage shows him entering his former employer’s flat at 6.39 am and leaving about an hour later.

Police said Meena used his familiarity with the house, including access codes and spare key locations, to gain entry. He allegedly went to the rooftop study room where the victim was preparing for the UPSC examination, assaulted her with a lamp and another heavy object, and strangled her when she resisted. He then raped her and dragged her downstairs to the room with the locker, attempting to open it using her finger before forcing it open with a screwdriver and stealing cash and jewellery.

According to police, Meena then changed out of his blood-stained clothes, wore trousers and slippers belonging to the victim’s brother, and fled with a black backpack. The victim’s parents, returning from the gym around 8 am, found her lying in a pool of blood. She was rushed to hospital but was declared dead. A post-mortem conducted at AIIMS reportedly found multiple injuries, including abrasions, contusions, a nasal bone fracture and strangulation as the cause of death. Police have registered charges of rape, murder and robbery, and further forensic analysis is ongoing.

Delhi Police said 15 teams were formed to trace the accused. CCTV footage from the society gate and building entrance helped track his movements, eventually leading investigators to an auto-rickshaw driver who allegedly dropped him at a hotel in Dwarka. Police then located and arrested him. He has been remanded to four days of police custody for further questioning, including reconstruction of the crime scenes in Delhi and Alwar.

Police said Meena showed no remorse after his arrest and allegedly told them, “If she had given the money, this would not have happened.” His family described him as usually quiet but prone to arguments over money due to his gambling habit. They said they never imagined he was capable of such a crime, but maintained that if he is guilty, he should face the strictest punishment.

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