The Delhi acid attack case has been thrown into further disarray with the arrest of the victim’s father, shifting the focus of the ongoing investigation. The incident, which occurred near Laxmi Bai College, has been marked by conflicting testimonies and a lack of definitive evidence against the initially accused.
The 20-year-old student, attending classes at the Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board, was attacked on October 26. She reported severe burns to her hands and minor injuries to her stomach, prompting immediate medical attention.
Her initial statement implicated Jitender, a married painter, and two others, Ishan and Arman, who she claimed had stalked her. Forensic examination confirmed the use of a powerful acid. However, alibi evidence, including CCTV footage and call detail records, indicated Jitender was at a work assignment in Karol Bagh during the attack. Crucially, no visual evidence supported the accusations of the perpetrators arriving at or fleeing the crime scene.
Authorities have now taken the victim’s father into custody. He was located at a relative’s home in Ghaziabad. Investigators are reportedly examining his potential involvement in staging parts of the attack or manipulating the initial police report. This arrest follows a complaint filed by the wife of one of the initially named individuals, accusing the victim’s father of sexual harassment and extortion during his past employment at her husband’s factory.
Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage that shows the victim traveling by scooty with her brother and then transferring to an e-rickshaw, a detail that has raised further questions. The detention of the victim’s father is a significant development as police attempt to untangle the truth behind this complicated case.