51-year-old held for homeless woman’s sexual assault in SW Delhi

Police arrested a 51-year-old man for allegedly sexually harassing a homeless woman in southwest Delhi, despite her not wishing to take action.

New Delhi: Police have arrested a 51-year-old man for the alleged sexual harassment of a homeless woman sleeping on a footpath at night in southwest Delhi’s Palam Village, police said on Saturday.

Officials said an alleged video of the incident surfaced on social media. (Photo for representation)

Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said that on May 24, police received a PCR recall reporting that a man was inappropriately touching the homeless woman on the footpath. “A team was deployed to the scene and found the woman, who allegedly told police that nothing had happened to her and that she did not wish to take any action,” the DCP said.

However, the local police station initiated a search. On May 30, police arrested the 51-year-old, identified as Mahavir, who works at a tent house, DCP Goel added.

Police said a case under sections 74 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 75(sexual harassment) and 296 (obscene acts or songs) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered based on the PCR caller’s statement.

Officials said an alleged video of the incident surfaced on social media, showing the suspect allegedly involved in an indecent act with the woman.

The woman could not be found till Saturday evening, said a senior police official familiar with the matter.