Cab driver Basu Kumar Singh arrested for kidnap and murder of child in Mehrauli
The Delhi Police have obtained two-day custody of a cab driver, Basu Kumar Singh, following the abduction, rape, and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Mehrauli, South Delhi. Investigators are currently conducting a detailed forensic probe to secure a conviction against the accused.
According to the police, Singh drove past the spot where the minor was sleeping with her family nearly an hour before the abduction. He then parked his vehicle and lurked around the area for approximately 45 minutes, waiting for an opportunity to kidnap the child without waking her parents. The girl was initially sleeping in her mother’s arms but was taken by Singh after she turned in her sleep and lay a short distance away.
During interrogation, Singh claimed he rolled up the car windows immediately after the abduction to prevent the victim's screams from being heard. However, police suspect he may have slapped and threatened her into silence. The victim suffered visible injuries to her chest, which officers allege were caused by being struck with large stones.
Forensic teams have gathered critical evidence from the crime scene and the vehicle. Broken strands of hair were recovered from both the inside of the cab and the location where the girl's body was dumped. Investigators also seized bloodstains, a towel suspected of being used to strangle the child, and the stones allegedly used in the attack. The car and the crime spot have been chemically treated to detect bodily fluids, and the vehicle is scheduled for a detailed examination at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
In addition to forensic testing, the Delhi Police have blocked Singh’s cab aggregator ID. Investigators have written to the cab aggregators to obtain details regarding his enrolment and the screening process used during his onboarding.
Prior to the crime, Singh had reportedly appeared for police recruitment examinations in Bihar and told officers he aspired to become a police officer. His brother also revealed that Singh was involved in a road accident in another state on June 19, after he briefly dozed off at the wheel and swerved to avoid an oncoming truck.
Police are currently awaiting the final reports of the postmortem and a potency test performed on the accused to proceed with the prosecution.
