Stolen phone, Instagram chats, Hotel Wi-Fi: Clues that led to IRS officer's daughter's killer
IRS officer's daughter's killing: In the probe into the rape and murder of a 22-year-old IIT graduate and daughter of a senior IRS officer in southeast Delhi’s Kailash Hills, investigators relied on three key digital leads — a stolen mobile phone, hotel Wi-Fi usage, and Instagram chats — to trace and arrest the accused, Rahul Meena.
Police said the case was cracked through a mix of technical surveillance and field investigation, backed by CCTV footage and interrogation. They noted that the accused did not have a personal phone, possibly assuming this would help him avoid detection.
However, officials discovered he had been using a handset allegedly stolen earlier during a harassment incident in Rajasthan’s Alwar, where he is also wanted in a separate rape case. This device became a major breakthrough in the investigation.
By analysing its usage patterns and linking them to recent movements, police were able to build a digital trail. Even though the phone was not registered in his name, technical tracking helped narrow down his location.
Hotel Wi-Fi provided crucial lead
Further inquiries revealed that after the crime, Meena allegedly fled with around Rs 2.5 lakh and checked into a hotel in Dwarka, where he accessed the internet using the hotel’s Wi-Fi.
Investigators used Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) to trace the device’s online activity. These logs, which record internet connections on specific networks, helped pinpoint the exact location of the accused, confirming his presence at the Dwarka hotel — a key turning point in the case.
At the same time, more than 15 police teams were deployed across Delhi and parts of Rajasthan, including Alwar, Jaipur, Dausa, and Rajgarh, to follow various leads. However, the Wi-Fi data significantly narrowed the search area.
A third important clue came from his social media activity.
While digital evidence played a central role, CCTV footage provided vital visual confirmation. According to PTI, cameras recorded the आरोपी entering the victim’s colony around 6:30 am, reaching her house at 6:49 am, and leaving around 7:20 am — the timeframe during which the crime is believed to have occurred.
He was seen entering in one set of clothes and leaving in another, carrying a backpack, aligning with the sequence reconstructed by investigators using both digital and physical evidence.
- With inputs from agencies
