In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Rajasthan's corporate community, the police in Udaipur have arrested three individuals, including the CEO of an IT firm and one of his executives, for the alleged gang rape of a female colleague. The crime reportedly occurred after an office party when the accused offered to drop the victim home.
The Sequence of a Betrayal
The disturbing event unfolded on the night of March 8. The woman, an employee of the same IT company, had attended an office party. After the event concluded, her superior, identified as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dharmendra Singh Rajpurohit (35), and a colleague, Executive Hemant Singh Rajpurohit (26), offered to give her a lift home in their car. A third accused, a woman named Priyanka Singh (22), was also present in the vehicle.
Instead of taking her to her residence, the group took the victim to a secluded location. There, in the moving car, the two male accused allegedly took turns raping her. The police complaint states that Priyanka Singh, the female accomplice, aided the two men by allegedly recording the horrific act on her mobile phone. The victim was later dropped off, traumatized by the betrayal of trust by her colleagues.
Police Action and Charges
Displaying immense courage, the survivor approached the Ambagarh police station and filed a detailed complaint. Acting swiftly on her statement, the police launched an investigation and apprehended all three accused. The arrests were made under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The accused have been booked under sections 376D (gang rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC. The involvement of a female accused in facilitating and recording the crime adds a particularly sinister dimension to the case. Police officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and they are gathering all possible evidence, including the mobile phone used to record the incident.
A Breach of Workplace Trust
This incident has raised serious questions about safety, especially for women, in professional environments. The fact that the alleged perpetrators were in positions of power and trust—a CEO and an executive—highlights a grave abuse of authority. The offer of a safe ride home, a common courtesy among colleagues, was weaponized to commit a heinous act.
The Udaipur police have assured that the law will take its strictest course. The case has sparked outrage and calls for stricter enforcement of workplace safety protocols and more robust systems to prevent such exploitation. It serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities that can exist even within seemingly secure professional circles.
As the legal process begins, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the survivor. The swift arrest of the accused is a step in that direction, but the long road to trial and recovery lies ahead. The incident underscores the critical need for corporate India to foster safer, more accountable, and zero-tolerance environments for harassment and violence against women.
