A 22-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in her apartment in a posh residential society in Pune’s Kondhwa on Wednesday evening by a man impersonating a courier delivery agent, police said.
The intruder is said to have approached the victim’s door around 7.30 p.m., insisting on a signature for a parcel. Despite the woman denying that any delivery was expected, the man reportedly persuaded her to open the security door. It was at this point that he allegedly sprayed a substance on her face, rendering her defenceless. He then allegedly raped her inside the flat.
Police suspect the use of a chemical or sedative substance, possibly a spray, to render the victim unconscious, although forensic confirmation is awaited.
CCTV footage from the residential society has captured the suspect’s face, and a manhunt is underway.
Police have filed charges under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 64 (punishment for rape), Section 77 (voyeurism), and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation).
Law enforcement authorities confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway. No arrests have been made so far. The woman’s statement has been recorded, and forensic evidence is being collected from the scene.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns about the safety protocols in high-end residential societies, particularly the verification of delivery personnel and visitor entry mechanisms.
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Separate incident on Pune highway
In another case reported earlier this week from the Daund area of Pune district, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by two unidentified men while travelling in a car with three other women.
According to police, the incident took place around 4.15 a.m. on Monday when the driver halted the vehicle near a tea stall on the highway to take a break.
“As the driver felt sleepy, he halted the car near a tea stall. When the driver stepped out to answer nature’s call, two unidentified men approached the vehicle and threatened the occupants with sharp weapons and robbed the gold jewellery,” a police official said.
“One of the accused then took the minor girl out of the car and sexually assaulted her,” he added.
Investigations in both cases are ongoing, and police are examining CCTV footage, verifying identities, and coordinating with cybercrime units to track the accused.
Public outrage has mounted in Pune over the increasing instances of violent crimes against women, with calls for stricter monitoring of private society security and patrolling on highways.
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