Twist in Pune rape case: Woman knew accused from before, wrote 'threat note' herself; no chemical spray involved

In a new twist to the Pune rape case involving a 22-year-old IT professional , police now say the alleged attacker was not a stranger but someone known to the woman. According to investigators, the selfie used as evidence was taken by the woman herself and later edited, while the threatening message found on her phone was also typed by her, news agency PTI reported.

“They know each other for a couple of years and belong to the same community. The selfie was taken by the woman herself, and she also typed the purported threatening message,” Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar told reporters on Friday, as reported by PTI.

Earlier, the woman had claimed that an unknown man posing as a courier delivery agent entered her flat in Kondhwa on Wednesday evening, bolted the door, and had allegedly raped her after spraying a chemical that caused her to pass out. She later said the attacker left behind a threatening note and a selfie taken using her mobile phone, partially showing his face.

However, after detaining the suspect—described as a highly qualified professional—police said the original image had clearly shown the man’s full face but was later edited. Commissioner Kumar added, “No chemical spray was used. The girl’s mental state is not good at present. The rape part is still under investigation.”

The woman had initially told police that the man entered her home by claiming he had a parcel from a bank, then asked for a pen. When she turned her back, he entered, latched the door, and assaulted her. She claimed to have passed out and regained consciousness around 8.30 pm, after which she called her relatives, and the police were alerted.

The original case, registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 64 (rape), 77 (voyeurism), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation), had triggered a swift police response. Forensic experts were brought in to examine her and collect samples. CCTV footage from the housing society showed no trace of the alleged courier agent, and no visitor entries had been logged in the app-based system used by the society.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde had said, “We have seen the cropped selfie and the message on the survivor’s phone after collecting the gadget from her.”

The woman, who works with an IT company in Kalyaninagar, had been living with her younger brother in a rented flat since 2022. Her brother was away on the day of the alleged incident.