Birthday Outing to Delhi Temples Ended in Alleged Assault
New Delhi, September 26, 2026: New details from the FIR in the Aastha Kunj Park gang-rape case describe how a 17-year-old girl and her male friend were allegedly confronted by three men who claimed to be police officers before the girl was threatened with weapons and sexually assaulted at secluded locations inside the South Delhi park.
According to the FIR accessed by Hindustan Times and The Indian Express, the teenager had gone out with a 17-year-old male friend on September 21, which was her birthday. The two visited Kalkaji Temple and intended to visit the nearby ISKCON temple later in the evening.
The allegations in the FIR remain part of an ongoing criminal case. References to the three arrested men as “accused” reflect their legal status and should not be read as a finding of guilt.
What the Survivor Told Police
According to the FIR, the girl left home by auto-rickshaw with her friend and reached Kalkaji Temple at around 5:45 pm. They remained there until approximately 7 pm, after which they bought chips and water near Kalkaji Metro station.
They subsequently entered Aastha Kunj Park through Gate No. 7 and sat on a bench before continuing their planned outing.
The girl alleged that three men approached them, grabbed and slapped her friend, and claimed they were policemen. The men allegedly questioned why the teenagers were in the park and took away their mobile phones. One of the men then took her friend elsewhere in the park, according to her statement.
Survivor Asked Them to Speak to Her Family, FIR Says
One of the notable details contained in the FIR concerns the accused allegedly attempting to intimidate the teenager by referring to her family.
Hindustan Times reported that when the men threatened to contact her mother, the teenager indicated that her family knew about her plans and that they could speak to them. When two men subsequently directed her towards bushes, she again asked that any questions be asked there and offered to let them speak to her mother by phone.
According to the FIR, the situation then escalated. One of the men allegedly instructed another, identified in the FIR as Asif, to produce a gun. The survivor alleged that a black firearm was displayed and that knives were also produced.
Teen Alleges She Was Taken to Secluded Areas at Knifepoint
The teenager alleged that she was taken to darker, secluded parts of Aastha Kunj Park and sexually assaulted by the three men at different locations while being threatened with a knife.
The Indian Express reported from the FIR that the three men were referred to during the incident as Asif, Hemu and Dipu. Police later identified Hemu and Dipu as Hemant and Mukesh, who are brothers.
PTI reported, citing a senior police officer, that the teenager alleged each accused held a knife to her throat during the assaults.
Because these details come from the survivor's statement and FIR, they are allegations being investigated rather than judicial findings.
Threatened After the Alleged Assault, According to FIR
According to the FIR as reported by The Indian Express, the accused returned the teenagers' phones after the alleged assault and threatened them against disclosing what had happened.
After leaving the park, the girl told her friend about the alleged sexual assault. He then contacted police. A PCR call was received at approximately 8:45 pm, after which police reached the area near Gate No. 7.
Survivor's Recollection Helped Investigators Identify Suspects
Investigators have said that the teenager's recollection of the men's names or nicknames, clothing and physical characteristics helped police identify the suspects.
Hindustan Times reported that the survivor and her friend provided information about clothing, appearance and the route taken by the accused. An investigator told the publication that this information helped police trace the suspects within hours.
The Indian Express reported that one accused, Asif, 34, was a vegetable vendor who had previously acted as a police informer. DCP (South-East) Vineet Kumar told the newspaper that local police had details about Asif, while police maintained that his previous association as an informer did not provide him any protection.
Three Accused Arrested
Police arrested Asif, Hemant and Mukesh after the case was reported.
According to India Today, Hemant is a lawyer and Mukesh a final-year B.Sc. Mathematics student. Asif was apprehended after an exchange of fire with police near the rear side of Lady Shri Ram College for Women and sustained a gunshot injury to his leg, according to police.
The Indian Express separately reported that police said Asif opened fire during the operation before he was shot in the leg. That sequence is therefore based on the police version of the encounter.
The three accused have subsequently been sent to judicial custody, according to PTI.
Forensic Evidence Collected From Aastha Kunj Park
The investigation has also moved to forensic examination.
According to PTI, the teenager accompanied investigators to the park and identified locations connected with the alleged assaults. A Forensic Science Laboratory team and a district mobile crime team examined those locations and collected biological and other evidence, including a condom near one of the benches.
The samples were sent for forensic examination, including DNA profiling. Police also examined footage from more than 300 CCTV cameras in and around the park and on surrounding routes, according to the report.
Security at Aastha Kunj Park Also Under Scrutiny
The case has raised questions about security conditions inside the large DDA park.
Police are examining security arrangements, including guards, lighting and CCTV coverage in secluded sections of Aastha Kunj Park, PTI reported. Investigators are also checking whether the accused may have been involved in similar incidents, although police sources said no previous formal complaint of such incidents had been received at the time of that report.
The investigation and criminal proceedings remain ongoing. The allegations described in the FIR will ultimately be tested through the legal process.
Sources
Primary reporting: Hindustan Times, The Indian Express and PTI; additional reporting from Times of India and India Today. The account below distinguishes allegations recorded in the FIR from information attributed to police.
