In a textbook example of how technology is aiding modern policing, the Haryana Police have successfully cracked a sensitive gang-rape case and arrested four suspects within 48 hours. The breakthrough in the investigation came not through physical evidence alone, but through a digital payment trail that provided the crucial link to the identities of the accused.
The Crime and Investigation The incident involved the abduction and sexual assault of a woman by four men. Following the horrific act, the perpetrators fled the scene, leaving behind very little physical evidence for the investigators.
-
The Digital Clue: During the interrogation and statement recording, it was revealed that one of the suspects had stopped at a local vend or shop shortly before or after the crime. In a moment of oversight, the suspect used a popular UPI-based digital payment app to pay for items.
-
Tracking the Suspects: Using the transaction ID provided by the shopkeeper, the police coordinated with the bank and the payment gateway provider to obtain the mobile number and KYC (Know Your Customer) details associated with the account.
-
The Arrest: Once the primary suspect was identified through his digital footprint, police tracked his live location via cell tower data. A subsequent raid led to his arrest, and based on his interrogation, his three accomplices were also apprehended from their hideouts.
Police Statement Senior police officials stated that the digital evidence provides an “unshakable link” in the case. “While the accused tried to hide their physical identity, their digital footprint remained. This transaction acted as a virtual DNA, leading us directly to their doorstep,” said a senior investigating officer.
The police have recovered the mobile phones used for the transaction and have sent them for forensic examination. The vehicle used in the crime has also been impounded. The victim has identified the four accused during an identification parade.
Legal Action The four men have been charged under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for gang-rape and criminal intimidation. They were produced before a local magistrate today and have been sent to five-day police remand for further questioning and to determine if they were involved in any previous criminal activities.
