Pune woman edited selfie, faked rape story ‘out of anger’, reveals probe

Police traced the man’s movements through security footage and eventually detained him near a firm in Baner. (Representative image)

In a dramatic turn in the alleged rape case that shocked Pune earlier this week, police have revealed that the 22-year-old IT professional who claimed she was raped by a man posing as a courier delivery agent fabricated key elements of her complaint.  Investigations show the accused was not a stranger, but a close friend of the woman, and the events leading up to the FIR were consensual, police said.

The woman had initially alleged that a man, pretending to be a delivery boy, entered her flat in the city’s upscale Kondhwa area on Wednesday, sexually assaulted her, and left after threatening to leak her photos online.

She had claimed he clicked a selfie on her phone and typed a message reading “I’ll be back” before disappearing.

However, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Friday dismissed the courier narrative, saying there was no forced entry, no chemical spray, and no unknown intruder. “It was a known person who had entered with her consent,” he told reporters.

Additionally, the selfie used as evidence in the complaint was also manipulated, police confirmed. Originally taken with the consent of both individuals, the image was later edited by the woman to show only part of the man’s face.

The threatening message she claimed he left was also typed by her on her phone after he left the premises.

“Our technical analysis confirmed the man’s mobile location at her residence, and CCTV footage from the housing society showed him entering the building,” said Kumar. “Despite being shown the clear image of the man from CCTV, she denied knowing him, which made our job more difficult.”

Police traced the man’s movements through security footage and eventually detained him near a firm in Baner.

Once in custody, it was revealed that he and the woman had been friends for years, had met at a community event, and had visited her house multiple times before.

During questioning, the woman told police that she was not ready for sexual intercourse that evening, but the man allegedly forced himself on her.

She, however, also admitted that she filed the complaint “out of anger.”

“While the allegation of rape is still under investigation, it is clear the original narrative, of a stranger posing as a delivery boy, was fabricated,” said Commissioner Kumar. “This was a deliberate attempt to mislead the investigation.”

Police said both families were familiar with each other and confirmed that the accused is a highly qualified professional.

Police stated they are still evaluating whether the alleged sexual act was consensual or forced, and no legal decision has yet been made on potential charges against the woman for filing a false complaint.