60-year-old woman raped in south Delhi by 35-year-old ‘drunk’ neighbour

The rape victim, who was alone at her home in south Delhi at the time of the incident, did not tell her family members about it for 12 hours out of fear of social stigma. She was also reluctant to file a complaint but was later prevailed upon by her daughter.

A 60-year-old woman was raped allegedly by a neighbour in south Delhi’s Mehrauli on Saturday night.

The rape victim told Delhi Police that she decided to visit her daughter nearby when she could not deal with the trauma. It was only when her daughter insisted that she broke down and told her about the assault. (HT FILE)

Delhi Police said that 35-year-old Sanjay was allegedly drunk when he entered the victim’s house and sexually assaulted her. The woman, who was asleep when the accused entered, had reportedly left the door open for her son. The accused threatened to kill her if she raised an alarm, police said. Her husband passed away a few years ago.

Sanjay was arrested on Sunday after the woman’s family approached the police in Mehrauli. A senior police officer said that initially the woman was reluctant to file a complaint fearing social stigma. She did not even inform her family about it for nearly 12 hours after the incident.

She told the police later that she decided to visit her daughter nearby when she could not deal with the trauma. It was only when her daughter insisted that she broke down and told her about the assault. The daughter informed her husband and the couple brought the woman to the police station.

“A case was registered and she was sent to AIIMS for medical examination that confirmed rape,” said the officer. A team raided the house of the accused but he was missing. The police tracked his location to Pul Prahladpur and arrested him from his sister’s house. He had been hiding there, police said.

“Sanjay is a school-dropout and unemployed. He has been into petty crimes such as theft and burglary. We arrested him in the rape case and produced him before a city court that sent him to jail,” said the officer.

An NGO has been roped in for counselling the woman since she has been under trauma after the incident, the officer added.