A 55-year-old Executive Director of Institute for Social Democracy (ISD)-based NGO, who is accused of raping a 26-year-old volunteer of the organisation in September this year, allegedly jumped to death from the third floor of his residence in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj area on Wednesday morning. Following the complaint regarding the rape, forwarded by the National Commission for Woman to the Delhi Police, a case was registered against Khursheed Anwar on Tuesday evening. Sources said the victim led the December 16 gang-rape protests held at India Gate last year.
A three-page note written in Hindi was recovered from his possession in which he had mentioned the allegation of rape. The note also had a poem in Hindi. Even though he has mentioned about the allegation, he has neither accepted nor denied it. He also mentioned a few names but without accusing or putting them in any context. The note is not dated or signed.
Anwar was a native of Allahabad and had been staying alone in a rented accommodation in B-9 Vasant Kunj area.
"Around 11 on Wednesday morning, police received a PCR call that a body was lying in a pool of blood on the rear side of the B-9 building . Police reached the spot and rushed him to AIIMS Trauma Center where he was declared brought dead," a senior police
official said.
A case under Sections 376 and 328 of IPC was registered against Anwar for allegedly raping a 26-year-old girl, who was working as a volunteer with an NGO associated with ISD in September this year.
"On Wednesday morning, a team of Delhi Police personnel came to his house and after questioning him for 30 minutes, they left. later, his body was found lying in the street," the officer added.
Anwar's wife, who has been living separately, and also members of ISD claimed that he was framed in the case and it was an attempt to defame him by certain people running the NGO.
"He had been framed in a false case of rape. We had filed a defamation case against the people who are behind the conspiracy. Somehow, the news was leaked to media, which ultimately led to character assassination and the burden was too much for him. He failed to cope with the stress hence he must have taken the extreme step," said a volunteer.
Even though the rape victim did not make any police complaint, her friends convinced her to record a video statement with an activist Madhu Kishwar, who after several weeks raised the issue with National Commission for Women. NCW on Tuesday forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police to take action and subsequently a case was registered.