25-yr-old raped in gym

Two men in their late 20s, including the manager of a gym attached to a DDA sports club, were arrested for allegedly raping a 25-year-old gym instructor at least twice in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka area, police said on Monday.

Two men in their late 20s, including the manager of a gym attached to a DDA sports club, were arrested for allegedly raping a 25-year-old gym instructor at least twice in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka area, police said on Monday.

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The victim, who is to get married next month, is a resident of outer Delhi’s Mongolpuri area and was recommended as a potential employee to the gym’s management by her fiancé.

“According to the victim, hired some months ago as an assistant trainer at SAB Fitness, a gym at Dwarka Sports Club in Sector 11, she was raped by Ajay Pratap, the gym manager and her fellow instructor, Rakesh. She approached us on June 26 and both the accused have been arrested,” said AK Ojha, DCP (southwest).

According to the victim’s written complaint, police said, she was first sexually assaulted by Pratap on June 19, molested three days later and then raped again on June 26 after which she approached the police.

“The victim joined the gym 3 months ago as a Level-1 assistant trainer on her fiancé’s reference. Her fiancé is also a gym trainer in Pitampura and Rakesh, who was also involved in the incident, had been working as a trainer for the last one year,” said Himanshu Bharadwaj, the owner of SAB Fitness.

Police said the first incident took place around 11:30am on June 19 when Pratap intercepted the victim in the gym’s changing room after giving her a medicine for headache.

“Around 30 persons were present in the gym during the incident and no one was aware of the incident which took place in the gym’s changing room on the same floor,” Bharadwaj said.

Police said the incident came to light when, after having been raped the second time, the victim related the entire incident to her neighbour Sushil.

“Though the victim was first sexually assaulted on June 19, she chose not to tell us. But when she came to us, prompt action was taken and both the accused were arrested,” said Amulya Patnaik, joint commissioner of police (southern range).