The mother, who is aged 19 or 20, told police she had been attacked after getting into the autorickshaw with her daughter around midnight on 29 May to travel to her parents’ house in Gurgaon, on the outskirts of New Delhi.

Two men were on board along with the driver and began harassing her as soon as she got in.

She said the baby, who died of head injuries, was thrown out when she started crying before she was then taken to a deserted road where she was raped.

Gurgaon’s commissioner of police Sandeep Khirwar said: “We are interrogating several people and should be able to progress further in the case today, including making possible arrests.”

Almost 40,000 rapes are reported every year in India – but it is thought the number is much higher because victims are wary about how their complaints will be dealt with and the stigma surrounding sex crimes.

Laws on sexual violence were strengthened after the fatal gang rape of a Delhi student in 2012 sparked worldwide outrage.

The latest case is believed to be the third rape reported in Haryana state since last month.

In May police arrested a man accused of kidnapping, raping and killing his ex-girlfriend and is alleged to have smashed her head with bricks before running her over in a car.

Another case involved a 10-year-old who was found to be five months pregnant after allegedly enduring sustained sexual assault by her stepfather.

The girl was granted permission to have an abortion despite Indian law prohibiting termination beyond 20 weeks.