A security guard has been arrested in the Ahmedabad security guard rape case after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman tenant on the terrace of a residential society. Police said the accused had joined duty only four days earlier, prompting scrutiny of the security agency’s hiring and background-check procedures.
Ahmedabad Crime Reported at Residential Society
The alleged assault occurred late Saturday night in Ahmedabad when the woman went to the terrace of her residential building for a walk, according to police. Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector-1) Neeraj Kumar Badgujar said the accused, identified as Dharam Singh, is originally from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh.
Police said the guard allegedly restrained the woman, sexually assaulted her and locked her on the terrace before fleeing. Investigators examined CCTV footage that reportedly showed the guard reaching the terrace using the building’s elevator and stairs. Police said Singh had started working at the housing society only four days before the incident.
Guard Arrested After Police Search
According to police, the accused switched off his mobile phone after leaving the scene in an apparent attempt to avoid being traced. Ten teams involving local police and crime branch personnel were deployed to search for him.
Officers reviewed CCTV footage from the surrounding areas and conducted a search operation before locating the accused near Hebatpur. Police subsequently placed him under arrest. The rapid search became a major part of the Ahmedabad crime investigation as officers worked to reconstruct his movements after he left the housing society.
Security Agency Faces Background Check Scrutiny
Police said Singh had previously worked as a security guard with different companies in Ahmedabad before taking up the latest assignment. Investigators are now examining how he was recruited and whether proper employment verification procedures were followed.
Badgujar said the security agency appeared prima facie to have failed to adequately verify the accused’s background, provide proper training or collect essential personal information before deploying him. Police have indicated that action will also be considered against the agency based on the findings of the investigation. The case has consequently raised broader questions about background checks and tenant safety at residential societies.
Police Probe Includes Forensic Examination
Police said the accused has been booked on rape charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A Forensic Science Laboratory team visited the scene as investigators collected evidence connected to the case.
Medical examinations of the survivor and the accused are also part of the investigation, while police are proceeding with DNA-related forensic examination. Authorities have not disclosed the survivor’s identity.
The case has placed residential security practices under scrutiny, particularly the responsibility of agencies to verify personnel before assigning them to housing societies. As the investigation continues, police are examining both the alleged crime and whether failures in the guard’s recruitment and verification contributed to the security lapse.
