Gurugram Man Caught Half-Naked After Kidnapping Woman for Rape Attempt

In a swift operation early Sunday, January 25, 2026, Gurugram police arrested 25-year-old Gaurav Rathi for allegedly kidnapping a 23-year-old woman from Sirsa district and attempting to rape her in the secluded Leopard Trail area of the Aravalli Biodiversity Park. The incident unfolded around 3 AM, highlighting vulnerabilities in isolated urban green zones near Millennium City. An FIR under sections for kidnapping (Section 363 IPC) and attempt to rape (Section 376/511 IPC) was registered at Badshahpur police station, with Rathi remanded in custody for interrogation.

The woman, employed at a real estate firm in Gurugram and residing in a paying guest accommodation, had attended a late-night event. Accompanied by a male friend, she stopped at Leopard Trail—a popular spot for evening walks amid the Aravalli hills—for a brief stroll before heading home. As they ventured toward the hills, Rathi, identified as a local from Pandala village with a history as a driver and fruit stall vendor, allegedly snatched her mobile phone and fled.

In pursuit, the woman confronted him, only for Rathi to overpower her, shove her into his white Mahindra Scorpio SUV (HR registration), and speed into the dense forest trails. Her friend gave chase on foot and by auto-rickshaw for several kilometers but lost the vehicle amid rough terrain. He promptly alerted Badshahpur police via 112, triggering a high-alert search involving multiple teams, PCR vans, and drones scanning the 1,500-acre park known for past incidents of crime.

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The operation spanned over three grueling hours in pitch-dark, hilly terrain plagued by poor mobile signals. At approximately 5:30 AM near Sakatpur village, officers spotted the Scorpio abandoned in a roadside drain, its engine still warm. Inside, they found Rathi half-naked in the front seat, disheveled and attempting to flee, while the woman lay unconscious in the back seat from possible assault, dehydration, or trauma.

Senior officers, including DCP South Gurugram, commended the rapid response that prevented a full assault. The victim, now recovering at a local hospital, has declined a mandatory medical examination—a decision police respect but are probing for consent validity under POCSO-like protocols. Forensic teams recovered her phone, the accused's clothes, and vehicle evidence; CCTV from nearby tolls and fuel stations is under analysis to trace Rathi's movements.

Rathi, unemployed recently after quitting his driving job, lived alone in Pandala, 10 km from the site. Locals describe him as reclusive with a minor criminal record for petty theft. This incident echoes rising safety concerns in Gurugram's peripheral green belts, where over 50 similar cases were reported in 2025, prompting calls for better lighting, patrols, and women's safety apps.

Police urge citizens to avoid isolated areas post-dark, travel in groups, and use live-location sharing. Badshahpur SHO Inspector Vijay Pal confirmed: "All angles are under investigation; the accused will face strict justice." The woman’s friend, hailed a hero, assisted in the probe.

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