A man having a criminal record has been arrested by the police for raping a software engineer at her paying guest accommodation in the Electronics City in the early hours on Friday. The owner of the PG facility, Srinivas Reddy, has also been arrested, on the charges of destroying evidence and not providing security to the women.

The suspect, 28-year-old Shivaram Reddy, a resident of Avalahalli near KR Puram, was arrested after the police received a tip-off that a motorbike was lying abandoned some 200 metres from the PG facility. The police seized the bike and it turned out to be owned by none other than Shivaram.

According to the police, Shivaram had “confessed” to the crime. He had injured her by slashing her hand with a knife. She was later taken to the St John’s Hospital for treatment and upon medical examination, doctors confirmed she had been raped.

A senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, said Shivaram had a criminal record and his modus operandi was to target PG facilities where only women stayed.
He would threaten them and make away with their valuables and cash.

The officer further said he had gained entry into the PG facility using the key the victim’s roommate had left on the windowsill before leaving for work around 3 am.

The victim, who was asleep, woke up shocked on noticing a stranger wielding a knife inside the room. Shivaram threatened to kill her if she raised an alarm and asked her to hand over valuables and cash. The victim looked for some money and gave him Rs 1,000. He threatened her that his accomplices waiting in another room would rape her if she did not obey his commands.

He then asked her to undress. Fearing for her life, she complied. The suspect then raped her and fled.