Woman dead after rape; husband blames stepson

Gurugram, November 20

A 22-year-old drug addict has been booked for allegedly raping and abetting the suicide of his 45-year-old mother in Pataudi.

The alleged incident took place on November 16, but an FIR was registered today after the woman’s family moved the higher authorities, alleging policy laxity in registering a rape case. The family has sought action against local policemen.

In his complaint, the victim’s second husband accused his stepson of raping and murdering his wife. “Initially, the police treated it as a normal death and filed a report under Section 174 of the CrPC. It was only after the postmortem report confirmed rape, an FIR under Section 376 of the IPC was registered,” he said.

The post-mortem report mentioned the cause of death as “asphyxia due to ante-mortem neck compression by ligature”. But registering the case under Section 306 (abetment to suicide), and not Section 302 (murder), has left the family dumbfounded.

The family maintained that the woman was killed.

Local cops claimed to have seen a nook lying around the body. The family and eyewitness, however, said the body lying on the cot, as mentioned in police reports.

Forensic expert Dr Deepak Mathur, who conducted the postmortem, said the woman might have been raped and murdered.

Manesar DCP Nitika Gehlot said, “A case has been registered after the post-mortem report confirmed rape. The prime suspect is the son of the deceased woman. Based on circumstantial evidence, appropriate IPC Sections will be added to the FIR later.” — OC