A 22-year-old woman, daughter of a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was allegedly raped and murdered at her residence in southeast Delhi's upscale Kailash Hills locality on Wednesday morning, police said.

The woman was found murdered in a room of the house by her family members.

Preliminary inquiry suggests the woman, who was preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, was allegedly sexually assaulted before being strangled to death using a mobile phone charger cable, sources said.

She was alone at the residence at the time of the incident.

Police said the crime is believed to have taken place early in the morning when her parents had stepped out for their routine gym visit, leaving her home alone. Investigators suspect the accused took advantage of this brief window to gain entry into the house and carry out the crime.

"The victim's parents informed us first. The IRS officer and his wife had gone to the gym, and when they returned around 8 am, they found their daughter lying unconscious on the floor. She was immediately taken to Fortis Hospital in the NFC area, where doctors declared her brought dead. The hospital also informed the police thereafter," Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Vijay Kumar said.

Rahul Meena, a 19-year-old domestic help who had worked with the family for around eight months, is a prime suspect. He had been removed from his job around a month ago for alleged misappropriation of daily purchase bills.

Sources said Meena is familiar with the household, including its layout and the daily routine of the family members. He allegedly knew when the victim's parents would step out for their walk or gym sessions. The accused entered the house around 6 am, attacked the woman, and sexually assaulted her. During this, she was allegedly hit with a stick, inflicting significant blunt force trauma on her face and head.

Subsequently, the attacker strangled her using a mobile charging cable before fleeing the spot.

CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts confirmed that he entered the colony around 6.30 am, the house around 6.49 am, and left around 7.20 am, during which the crime is suspected to have been committed, the joint commissioner of police (JCP) said.

Police said Meena, who was seen outside the house even few days ago, has been missing since the incident and a manhunt has been launched to trace and apprehend him.

Police also said they have detained two persons -- a car cleaner in the area, and a househelp in the neighbourhood -- for questioning.

"The accused is absconding, and multiple teams have been formed to track him down. We are examining all possible angles and gathering evidence," a senior police official said.

"More than 15 teams were formed and deployed across multiple locations in Delhi and in Rajasthan's Rajgarh, Alwar, Jaipur, Dausa where he was likely to be present. He was later apprehended from a hotel in Delhi's Dwarka," the JCP said.

Further investigation is underway, and strong evidence has been gathered. Based on this, a comprehensive case will be presented before the court to ensure the accused receives the strictest possible punishment, the officer said.

"During the inquiry, it came to light that he was involved in online gaming and had borrowed money from other domestic helps he did not return. When the complainant, the IRS officer, became aware of this, he directed that the individual be removed from service, following which his service was terminated," he added.

It has also emerged that Meena was also involved in a similar incident a day ago in Alwar, where a rape case is filed against him, the JCP said.

Prima facie, resentment over his termination could also be a factor, but the exact motive will be confirmed after a detailed investigation, the officer told reporters.

As per the preliminary probe, the accused was aware of where a spare set of house keys was usually kept for the domestic help. Since the maid was on leave, he allegedly used the spare key to gain entry into the house. Upon entering, he proceeded upstairs, where the victim's room is located, and it is suspected that the crime was committed there.

CCTV footage indicates that the accused entered the premises wearing black-coloured trousers and without any bag, and exited wearing white-coloured trousers while carrying a bag. After leaving the building, he took a right turn and fled the area.

"The complainants have also alleged that cash amounting to approximately Rs 2 lakh was stolen from the house," the officer said The police said that the accused was familiar with the household, including its layout and the daily routine of the family members. He knew when the victim's parents would step out for their walk or gym sessions.

The brutal incident has sent shockwaves across the upscale residential locality. Locals expressed concern over safety and security in these neighbourhoods.

A case has been registered, and forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene. Investigators are also scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas and questioning several who may have had contact with the accused.

Police said further investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events.

Greater Kailash MLA Shikha Roy said the victim was a bright and talented young woman with a promising future, and her death is a painful loss for the entire community.

"I have known her personally for several years and have seen her grow up as a sincere, disciplined and exceptionally talented girl. She was brilliant in her studies, had completed engineering from IIT Delhi, and was preparing for the UPSC examination with great determination.

"She was an equally good dancer and other cultural activities, and despite being deeply focused on her studies, she remained humble and connected with people around her," Roy said.

A case has been registered, and forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene.