Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 28: What began as a shocking case of an alleged acid attack in the national capital has turned out to be a staged drama. Delhi Police on Monday exposed that the 20-year-old woman who claimed to have been attacked with acid by three men had fabricated the story along with her father to falsely implicate them.
According to police, the woman, a second-year BCom student enrolled under Delhi University’s Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board, had initially alleged that she was attacked by a man named Jitendra and his two friends, Ishan and Arman, near Laxmi Bai College on Sunday morning. She claimed that the accused were on a motorcycle, and one of them threw acid at her, causing burns on both her hands.
The incident sparked outrage across Delhi, with many demanding swift action against the alleged culprits. However, the investigation soon uncovered glaring inconsistencies in her statement.
During the probe, police discovered that Jitendra was not even near the crime spot at the time of the alleged attack. CCTV footage, mobile location data, and witness statements confirmed that he was in Karol Bagh. The motorcycle mentioned by the complainant was also found parked in Karol Bagh. Moreover, forensic teams found no trace of acid at the alleged attack site.
CCTV footage further showed that the woman left her home with her brother on a scooter. Instead of dropping her near the college gate, he stopped about 200 metres away in Ashok Vihar, which raised more suspicion.
As the probe deepened, police detained the woman’s father, Aqeel Khan, who had been absconding. Upon questioning, Khan confessed to having orchestrated the entire story to frame Jitendra and his friends. He admitted that his daughter’s burns were caused by a toilet cleaner, not acid. “She carried the toilet cleaner from home and poured it on her hands,” Khan told police during interrogation.
The motive behind the false complaint was revenge. Two days before the alleged attack, Jitendra’s wife had filed a police complaint accusing Khan of sexual harassment and blackmail. She alleged that she worked at Khan’s factory between 2021 and 2024, during which he forced himself on her and later used objectionable photos and videos to harass her. Khan has now been arrested in connection with that case as well.
In another twist, the mother of the other two accused, Shabnam, told police that she too had been attacked with acid in 2018 by Khan’s relatives. She said there was also an ongoing property dispute between her family and Khan’s over a plot in Mangolpuri, which is currently subjudice.
Delhi Police has announced that legal action will be taken against the woman and her father under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for fabricating evidence and misleading law enforcement.
Police officials said the case serves as a reminder of how false allegations can not only destroy innocent lives but also divert attention from genuine victims of acid attacks.