Gurugram woman abducted in Scorpio from popular picnic spot, rescued after hot police chase

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• Woman abducted by food vendor in Gurugram, rescued after SUV got stuck in mud
• Accused arrested, faces kidnapping and snatching charges; probe continues
• Sexual assault charges may be added after woman's statement before magistrate

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A 23-year-old woman was abducted by a food vendor from Leopard Trail in Gurugram, a popular picnic spot in the Aravalis, in the early hours of Sunday. The accused allegedly forced her into a borrowed Scorpio SUV and drove around the city for nearly an hour while police chased the vehicle. The woman was rescued after the car got stuck in mud, and the accused later fled the spot. He has since been arrested.

The accused has been identified as Gaurav Bhati (25), a food seller who operates in the area. Police said he has been charged with kidnapping and snatching. Sexual assault charges may be added after the woman records her statement before a magistrate.

According to police, the woman had gone to Leopard Trail late Saturday night along with a male colleague. The two reached the spot around 1.30 am and spent about an hour and a half there, sitting inside their car. During this time, Bhati allegedly approached them and began harassing them.

When the woman and her colleague objected, an argument broke out. During the heated exchange, Bhati allegedly snatched the woman’s mobile phone and ran towards a Scorpio SUV. When the woman chased him to get her phone back, he allegedly grabbed her, forced her into the vehicle, locked the door and drove away. Her colleague tried to stop him but was pushed aside.

As Bhati drove away with the woman, her colleague immediately alerted the police and shared details of the vehicle. Police teams began tracking the SUV using the location of the woman’s mobile phone. The accused drove through several parts of the city, including the Southern Peripheral Road, Subhash Chowk and Sector 74, before heading towards a secluded, hilly forest area.

The Scorpio, which Bhati had borrowed from another food vendor, eventually got stuck while driving through muddy paths in Pandala village. When the woman started screaming for help, Bhati got out of the vehicle and fled the spot. Police soon reached the area and rescued the woman safely.

The vehicle’s registration details helped police trace its owner, who told them that Bhati had taken the car claiming he needed to buy liquor. Three police teams were formed to track the accused, and he was arrested within a few hours.

A forensic team visited the area to collect evidence, and police are analysing location data to recreate the sequence of events. A medical examination confirmed that Bhati was intoxicated at the time of the incident, The Times of India reported.

Police said that when Bhati was taken back to the hills to recreate the crime scene, he attempted to escape custody. During the attempt, he slipped and fell on the uneven terrain, fracturing his right leg and injuring his face. He was hospitalised under police guard.

After being discharged from hospital, Bhati was produced before a local court and sent to judicial custody. An FIR was initially registered under sections related to kidnapping and snatching, and additional charges for attempting to escape custody and obstructing public servants have also been added. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.