Delhi Police have arrested all three accused in the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old minor at Astha Kunj Park in Delhi. Police examined footage from more than 300 CCTV cameras and collected forensic evidence from locations identified by the victim.
The three accused have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park in the Kalkaji area of southeast Delhi on the evening of September 21. According to police, the accused stopped the girl and her 17-year-old male friend by allegedly posing as police officers. They then threatened the two, separated them and took the girl to an isolated part of the park.
Police identified the accused as Asif, Hemant and Mahesh. However, some initial reports had identified the third accused as Mukesh. Subsequent police investigation and media reports showed a discrepancy over the name, making confirmation from official records important.
After their arrest, all three accused were sent to judicial custody. Police are examining their mobile phones, contacts and other technical evidence to establish the sequence of their activities before and after the incident.
During the investigation, police examined footage from more than 300 CCTV cameras installed in and around Astha Kunj Park. According to officials, investigators initially identified around 20 people on the basis of CCTV footage and other leads. Technical surveillance and locally gathered information subsequently helped investigators trace the accused.
The investigation also found a lack of CCTV coverage and lighting in the section inside the park where the alleged incident took place. Police have begun examining aspects related to the park's security arrangements, deployment of guards and patrolling. According to reports, no security guard was found near the site at the time of the incident.
According to police, the victim provided important information about the accused, including their clothing, physical appearance, names or aliases and the routes they took while fleeing. These details helped investigators identify the accused.
The victim later visited Astha Kunj Park with police and forensic teams and identified different locations linked to the alleged incident. Investigators collected biological and other forensic evidence from those locations. Police are awaiting the results of DNA profiling and other forensic examinations.
Police are also investigating whether the accused had any previous connection with other criminal incidents. Another aspect of the investigation is whether they had previously harassed or targeted other people visiting the park.
According to the police investigation, the girl had visited Kalkaji Temple with her 17-year-old male friend on September 21, her birthday. After offering prayers at the temple, the two bought chips and water outside Kalkaji Metro Station.
They then entered Astha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7. The two were sitting on a bench when the three accused allegedly approached them. According to police, the accused claimed to be police officers and began threatening them.
The accused allegedly accused the girl and her friend of wrongdoing and threatened them with police action. The girl was subsequently separated from her friend and taken to an isolated part of the park.
According to police, the victim stated in her complaint that one of the accused allegedly showed a gun and later threatened her with a knife. Police said the three accused allegedly raped the girl at different locations. During the incident, one accused allegedly kept watch while another threatened the victim.
According to police, after the alleged incident, all three accused threatened the girl and her friend with serious consequences if they disclosed the incident to anyone. Their mobile phones were then returned and the two were allowed to leave the park.
After the incident, the girl told her friend what had happened. The friend then called the police control room. After receiving the PCR call at around 8:45 pm, a police team reached the area near Gate No. 7 of the park.
Police formed several teams to apprehend the accused. According to officials, while police were attempting to apprehend Asif in the Amar Colony area, he allegedly fired at the police team. Police said he was shot in the leg during retaliatory action and was subsequently arrested.
The other accused were later arrested with the help of technical investigation and CCTV footage. Police have included the mobile phones of all three accused and other technical evidence in the investigation.
Following the incident, the security arrangements at Astha Kunj Park have also come under investigation. According to police, the park is large and its boundary wall is broken at several locations. Some entry gates do not have guards, while several sections have inadequate lighting.
The investigation also found that CCTV coverage was limited in the section where the alleged incident took place. Police are now examining the deployment of security guards and arrangements for regular patrolling inside the park.
The case comes at a time when several cases involving sexual offences against minors have been reported in Delhi in September 2026. According to an India Today report, the Astha Kunj Park incident was the fourth reported case involving a sexual assault on a minor in Delhi within two weeks. The report also mentioned the rape of a six-year-old girl and another serious case involving a 17-year-old girl.
According to the figures provided, NCRB data for 2024 recorded 1,553 POCSO cases in Delhi, averaging more than four cases a day. The 2025 NCRB report is not yet available. Such figures need to be viewed in context, as the number of registered cases does not necessarily represent the total number of actual incidents.Delhi Police are continuing to investigate the case by examining forensic reports, DNA profiling, CCTV footage, mobile phones and other technical evidence. Investigators are also examining the respective roles of the accused and their activities before and after the incident.
The identity of the minor victim has not been made public in accordance with the law. The allegations in the case remain subject to judicial proceedings, and any final conviction of the accused will depend on the decision of the court.
