Delhi Father Orchestrates False Acid Attack to Counter Rape Allegations: How Police Uncovered the Truth

Aqeel Khan orchestrated a false acid attack plot with his daughter and family members to counter rape allegations against him.

New Delhi:

In a case filled with shocking twists and disturbing revelations, what initially appeared to be an acid attack on a young woman in Delhi has been exposed as an elaborate deception. The story involves sexual assault allegations, self-inflicted chemical burns, false accusations, and a calculated conspiracy that Delhi Police methodically uncovered.

The troubling case highlights how Aqeel Khan manipulated his own daughter to shield himself from sexual assault charges, while attempting to misuse laws designed to protect acid attack victims.

Delhi Police officers spent approximately 36 hours carefully investigating the supposed acid attack reported by a 20-year-old college student. What began as an investigation into a horrific assault culminated in the arrest of the victim's father for orchestrating the entire scheme.

Special Commissioner of Police for Law and Order, Ravindra Yadav, detailed to NDTV how investigators discovered the truth behind this perplexing case.

The investigation revealed that Khan had designed what police described as "one arrow, many targets" - a complex conspiracy involving several family members. A female employee who worked at Khan's factory from 2021 to 2024 had filed rape charges against him just two days prior to the alleged acid attack. She accused Khan of sexually exploiting her and using private images and videos for blackmail.

In retaliation, Khan devised an elaborate scheme. His daughter staged an acid attack on herself and accused the rape complainant's husband of being the perpetrator, claiming he had been stalking her for some time.

The conspiracy extended further, with Khan naming two relatives, Armaan and Ishaan, as accomplices. These men weren't random selections - they are Khan's relatives whose mother, Shabnam, had previously accused Khan of both sexual violence and an acid attack in 2018. Shabnam informed authorities that the families are also entangled in property disputes.

"We have unravelled the conspiracy. It was a plan to hit multiple targets with one arrow," Special Commissioner Yadav explained to NDTV.

The false attack was carefully staged. According to Yadav, Khan's son drove his sister near Lakshmibai College in northwest Delhi on Sunday. She had brought toilet cleaner with acidic properties and a change of clothes. She deliberately poured the chemical on her hands, causing burns. After being taken to the hospital, she claimed three men on a motorcycle had stopped her, with one throwing acid at her. She told police her hands were burned because she raised them to protect her face.

As investigators examined the scene, inconsistencies in her account became apparent. While acid traces were found on the ground, none were detected on the nearby wall where she claimed the attack occurred. Additionally, medical staff reported that her injuries were minor, contradicting her brother's public statements that her condition was "critical."

Police meticulously investigated the man accused of carrying out the attack. "When we questioned the main accused, he said he was at Karol Bagh all day. We confirmed this using three methods: we tracked his phone location using technical analysis, we scanned CCTV footage and we also checked at the place where he said he was working. When we were satisfied that he was innocent, we started a deep dive to unravel this conspiracy," the senior officer told NDTV.

Two investigation teams were deployed - one focused on exposing the conspiracy while the other searched for Khan. Investigators discovered that the falsely accused attacker was married to the woman who had filed rape charges against Khan. They also uncovered that Khan was already facing trial for an acid attack case filed by Shabnam, mother of Armaan and Ishaan. "The matter is under trial. He felt he could be convicted, so he tried to frame the two," explained the officer.

The conspiracy involved not only Khan and his daughter but also his son and brother. "The whole thing was fabricated; she poured acid on her hands and levelled accusations," stated the officer, adding that Khan's family members would face charges for filing a false police report.

Khan was arrested late at night in connection with the rape case. During interrogation, he revealed the disturbing plot to misuse laws meant to protect acid attack victims. Police also recovered approximately 60 private photos and videos of the woman who had accused him of rape.