PUNE, July 4 – A 22-year-old woman in Pune was sexually assaulted by an unidentified man pretending to be a delivery agent, in a shocking incident that has reignited concerns over women’s safety in the city.

The incident occurred earlier this week when the victim was at home and received a knock at the door. The man, dressed like a delivery personnel and carrying a package, claimed he was there to deliver a parcel. Trusting his appearance, the woman stepped out of her home to receive it. Instead, the man forcibly dragged her to a nearby isolated lane and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene.

The woman later returned home and informed her family, who accompanied her to the local police station to file a complaint. Authorities have registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges related to sexual assault. The investigation is underway, with police analyzing CCTV footage from the vicinity and checking records from food and parcel delivery platforms to trace the accused.

A senior police officer stated that the suspect had clearly planned the act using the delivery disguise as a tool to gain access to the victim. “He was dressed like a legitimate delivery worker and carried a box. We believe this was a calculated move to avoid suspicion,” the official said.

The case has drawn comparisons to earlier incidents in Pune involving delivery-based crimes. In 2022, a young woman in Kondhwa was allegedly molested by a grocery delivery agent. In another incident, a 19-year-old was assaulted in Pimpri-Chinchwad by a man posing as a service worker. The recurrence of such crimes has raised alarms over background checks and the general trust placed in doorstep service professionals.

Meanwhile, broader statistics have shown an uptick in sexual assault cases across Pune. Reports indicate that more than 50 rape cases were registered in the first 40 days of 2025 alone—an alarming sign for law enforcement agencies and residents alike.

Experts and women's safety activists have once again called for stronger preventive measures. Suggestions include more stringent verification protocols for delivery personnel, mandatory ID scanning before handing over parcels, and the use of QR codes or app-based confirmation systems for each delivery. Some are even advocating for delivery exchanges to occur only in public or well-monitored areas, rather than at home entrances.

The woman, currently undergoing medical treatment and counseling, is being supported by her family and police officials. Authorities have urged anyone with CCTV footage or information from the area at the time of the assault to come forward.

Pune police have promised swift action and stated that efforts to identify and apprehend the accused are being pursued on priority. As the investigation continues, the case has become a grim reminder of how easily trust can be exploited—and how urgently systemic safety measures need to evolve.