Lonavala rape: Cops turn to CCTV to identify suspect

Based on details she could give,police have made a sketch and formed a special team to nab the man. They will be looking at the resort’s CCTV footage for clues.

The FIR registered at Paud police station on December 12 states,the woman hails from Mumbai,but had been with the Delhi branch of a corporate firm since January 2010. She had come to Aamby Valley on December 9 with colleagues. After dinner,she retired to her room around midnight and slept with two lights on.

The FIR further states she woke up when she felt someone gagging her and found the lights switched off. It was dark and a man overpowered her. She tried to shout for help. But the man held a pointed object to her neck and in Hindi threatened to kill her if she made a noise. Taking him to be a thief,she asked him to leave and take her valuables. She tried to reach for her mobile,but he pressed a pillow on her face and tried to strangulate her. She again requested him to leave,but he allegedly raped her twice. After he left,she locked the door and switched on the lights; it was 3.50 am. She then called her friend in another room for help,states the FIR.

“She received a major shock. She went to her house in Mumbai and told her parents. They informed her company authorities. The company contacted police and also the Aamby Valley officials to complain. A police team went to Mumbai and recorded her statement. The FIR was registered at Paud police station at 7.05 am,December 12,” said an officer.

“She was disturbed and hence filed the complaint late. Her medical test was done at Sassoon hospital. During investigation,we seized the clothes and bedsheet from the room she was allegedly raped,” the officer said.

“She could not see the face of the rapist as the lights were off. She is still in shock. We detained a few persons on suspicion,but they were released as she could not identify them,” the officer added.

Pratap Dighavkar,SP,Pune rural,said probe was on and there was nothing to share with the media now.

An official statement by Aamby Valley on Tuesday night said prima facie it appears to be their internal matter and the incident took place “during the corporate conference at Aamby Valley..which some 270-odd employees attended.”

The statement mentions that a formal complaint has been registered with the CEO of Aamby Valley by the victim’s company over phone on December 12. “Investigations are on by the police. We are co-operating to our fullest and hope to arrive at a conclusion.”