Delhi gang rape: Phones of 3 accused who posed as cops sent for FSL probe
Synopsis
Three men allegedly impersonated police officers to gang-rape a 17-year-old girl near Aastha Kunj Park in Delhi. With deleted search histories, suspected videos, a pistol and condoms recovered, investigators have now sent all three accused's phones to the FSL — and criminal conspiracy charges have been added to the FIR.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police sent mobile phones of all three accused in the Aastha Kunj gang rape case to the FSL on 24 September 2026 .
Pornographic videos were reportedly recovered from the phone of primary accused Asif, 32 ; search histories of Hemant and Mahesh were allegedly deleted.
A pistol, knife and condoms were recovered from Asif's possession; criminal conspiracy charges have been added to the FIR.
The three accused allegedly impersonated police officers, using law-enforcement language and threats, before assaulting the 17-year-old victim.
After the alleged assault, the accused reportedly visited a food shop and then allegedly washed their clothes at their Srinivaspuri home to destroy evidence.
The victim, threatened into silence, eventually told her friend, who alerted the Police Control Room .
The Delhi Police on Thursday, 24 September 2026, sent the mobile phones of the three accused in the Aastha Kunj park gang rape case to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination, as investigators dig into the digital activity and alleged criminal conspiracy of the men who impersonated police officers to assault a 17-year-old girl in south Delhi.
What the FSL Examination Seeks to Establish
According to police sources, investigators suspect the accused may have recorded videos of the minor victim. Several pornographic videos were reportedly recovered from the mobile phone of the primary accused, Asif, 32, a vegetable wholesaler who allegedly lived near Aastha Kunj Park and frequently visited secluded areas around it.
The search histories of the other two accused — Hemant, 24, reportedly an advocate, and his brother Mahesh, 24, a final-year B.Sc. Mathematics student — had allegedly been deleted before their arrest, according to sources. Investigators are mapping the digital footprints of all three to determine their movements, communications and activities before and after the alleged incident.
Criminal Conspiracy Charges and Evidence Recovered
Police have added criminal conspiracy charges to the First Information Report (FIR) following the recovery of a pistol, knife and condoms from Asif's possession. Investigators are also examining whether Asif had previously targeted other women in or around the park using a similar modus operandi, and whether he habitually carried weapons.
The accused are further suspected of having coordinated the attack before Monday evening, when the incident occurred. This, investigators say, lends weight to the conspiracy angle that prompted the additional charges.
How the Accused Posed as Police Officers
According to police sources, the three men impersonated police personnel to intimidate the victim and her friend. They reportedly used the address term 'sir' and invoked the language of law enforcement while threatening the girls, before allegedly assaulting the minor. The victim and her friend were also reportedly warned of consequences if they revealed the incident to anyone.
The assault came to light only after the victim narrated the incident to her friend, who then called the Police Control Room to report it.
What Happened That Evening
The incident took place on a Monday evening earlier this week when the victim and her 17-year-old friend visited Aastha Kunj Park following prayers at Kalkaji Mandir on the occasion of her birthday. The two girls entered the park through Gate No. 7, where the trio allegedly spotted them.
According to sources, the three men followed the girls for nearly one kilometre before confronting and intimidating them by posing as police officers. After the alleged assault, the accused brothers reportedly visited a food shop, then returned to their residence in Srinivaspuri, where they allegedly washed their clothes in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.
What Investigators Are Examining Next
The FSL analysis of the seized phones is expected to yield crucial evidence on the extent of the conspiracy and whether the accused documented the crime. Police are also widening their inquiry to establish whether any earlier incidents in the vicinity may be linked to the accused. The case has drawn sharp public attention to the safety of parks in the capital, and the potential for impersonation of law enforcement being used as a tool of predation.
Point of View
Carried a weapon, and then attempted to destroy evidence points to premeditation, not opportunism. The deletion of search histories and the suspected recording of the assault, if confirmed by the FSL, would significantly strengthen the conspiracy charge. Equally concerning is the investigative question of whether this was a first offence — if Asif routinely frequented secluded park areas with weapons, the failure of any prior detection raises uncomfortable questions about surveillance and safety in Delhi's public green spaces.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aastha Kunj park gang rape case?
The Aastha Kunj gang rape case involves the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl by three men who posed as police officers near Aastha Kunj Park in south Delhi. The incident reportedly occurred on a Monday evening after the victim and her friend visited the park following prayers at Kalkaji Mandir on her birthday.
Why were the accused's phones sent to the FSL?
Delhi Police sent the phones to the Forensic Science Laboratory to examine digital activity, recover deleted data, and determine whether the accused recorded videos of the assault. Pornographic videos were reportedly already found on one phone, while search histories on two others had allegedly been deleted.
Who are the three accused in the Aastha Kunj gang rape case?
The three accused are Asif, 32, described as a vegetable wholesaler and the primary suspect; Hemant, 24, reportedly an advocate; and Mahesh, 24, Hemant's brother and a final-year B.Sc. Mathematics student. All three have been taken into custody by Delhi Police.
What additional charges have been filed against the accused?
Criminal conspiracy charges have been added to the FIR following the recovery of a pistol, knife and condoms from Asif's possession. Investigators believe the accused may have planned the assault in advance, which supports the conspiracy angle.
How did the crime come to light?
The victim, who was threatened with consequences if she spoke out, eventually narrated the incident to her friend. The friend then called the Police Control Room to report the assault, setting the investigation in motion.
