A 22-year-old IT professional in Pune has been accused of filing a false and misleading rape complaint. The woman initially alleged that a "delivery agent" entered her apartment, sprayed a chemical that rendered her unconscious, and then committed the crime. She further claimed the man took a selfie using her phone and threatened to circulate her photos if she reported the incident.
However, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that the investigation revealed the woman's complaint was entirely fabricated. The police investigation found inconsistencies in her statements within 24 hours of the initial report. Evidence, including phone chats, the sequence of events, mobile communication, and the woman's conduct, indicated that it was not a case of rape. Police have ruled out forced entry and the use of any chemical spray.
The "delivery agent" was actually a friend of the woman who visited her flat with her consent. The man, an IT professional from Baner, was detained and questioned, but later released with a notice to cooperate with the investigation. Commissioner Kumar noted that the man and woman knew each other for years and belonged to the same community. The selfie was reportedly taken by the woman herself and later edited to partially hide the man's face, and the threatening message was allegedly typed by her as well.
The woman's initial statement to the police had numerous discrepancies, and she changed her story during questioning. She was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, where her statement was recorded. A senior police officer mentioned that her multiple oral and written statements were contradictory and misleading. The complainant reportedly told investigators that she was not in a stable frame of mind.
Police are still investigating the woman's motive for filing the false complaint. Commissioner Kumar lamented that the false report led to narratives portraying Pune as an unsafe city for women. He emphasized that the police quickly established the truth and that such false claims should not defame the city.
