The 17-year-old survivor in the Kalkaji gang rape case in New Delhi has given police a detailed statement describing how three men allegedly posed as police personnel, separated her from her male friend, and sexually assaulted her inside a park near Kalkaji Temple on her birthday. The case, now referred to as the Aastha Kunj gang rape case, has prompted forensic investigators to examine the accused's mobile phones for digital evidence.

The Survivor's Account

According to her statement to police, the survivor left home at around 5 p.m. and reached Kalkaji Temple by 5:45 p.m. with a male friend. After spending roughly an hour at the temple, the two purchased snacks near Kalkaji Metro Station and entered a nearby park through Gate No. 7, intending to rest before visiting the ISKCON Temple.

'As soon as we sat on a bench and opened the packet of chips, three men, who appeared to be around 30 to 35 years old, approached us. They grabbed my friend and slapped him,' she told investigators. The three men then allegedly identified themselves as police personnel, confiscated both their mobile phones, and forcibly separated her from her companion.

Threat at Gunpoint and Alleged Assault

The survivor alleged that two of the men led her to an isolated section of the park, where all three were subsequently involved in the alleged sexual assault. She told police that during the incident, one of the men said, 'Asif bhai, take out the gun.' The man identified as Asif, described as wearing a purple shirt and the most heavily built of the three, produced a black-coloured firearm before pocketing it again.

All three men allegedly warned both the survivor and her friend not to disclose the incident. They subsequently returned the confiscated phones and escorted the two out of the park. The survivor then informed her friend about the assault, and he promptly contacted the police control room. Officers reached the location shortly thereafter.

Forensic Investigation and Digital Evidence

Delhi Police on Thursday sent the mobile phones of all three accused — identified as Asif, Mukesh, and Hemant — to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination. Investigators are probing the digital activity and an alleged conspiracy by the trio, who reportedly impersonated law enforcement officers.

According to sources, several pornographic videos were reportedly recovered from the mobile phone of accused Asif. Police also suspect he may have recorded videos of the survivor during the incident. The search histories of the other two accused, Mukesh and Hemant, had allegedly been deleted prior to their arrest, according to sources. Investigators are now working to reconstruct the digital footprints of all three men to map their movements, communication, and activities before and after the alleged assault.

Background and Context

The alleged incident occurred near one of Delhi's most prominent religious sites, in a park used regularly by residents and temple visitors. The case has drawn attention to safety in public spaces adjoining major landmarks in the capital. Notably, the alleged use of a firearm, impersonation of police, and the targeting of a minor have led investigators to treat the case with elevated urgency. The FSL findings are expected to be a key pillar of the prosecution's case as the investigation progresses.