Booked for naming rape victim, Delhi court acquits Swati Maliwal

Swati Maliwal and her then media advisor were accused of disclosing the name of a 14-year-old rape victim who succumbed to her injuries in 2016.

Updated on: Aug 13, 2025, 11:59:27 IST

By Arnabjit Sur

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A local court on Wednesday acquitted former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief and Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal and her then media advisor, Bhupinder Singh, in a case in which they were accused of disclosing the name of a 14-year-old rape victim who succumbed to her injuries in 2016.

Former Delhi Commission for Women chief and Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal. (PTI)

A detailed order of the additional chief judicial magistrate, Neha Mittal, acquitting the two, was awaited.

The Delhi Police booked Maliwal and Singh, saying they violated the Juvenile Justice Act by revealing the identity of a sexual assault victim by circulating a notice in the print and electronic media. Singh was accused of preparing the notice. The two were accused of “intentionally circulating” the notice on WhatsApp groups.

Maliwal as DCW chief took cognisance of the case in which a neighbour sexually assaulted the 14-year-old and allegedly forced a corrosive substance down her throat, damaging her internal organs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arnabjit Sur
Arnabjit Sur is a Senior Correspondent with Hindustan Times who primarily covers stories from the capital's trial courts. Previously, he has worked for English dailies such as The Hindu, Indian Express and Millennium Post, where he has focused on crime and legal stories, especially incorporating both the subjects into producing long-form investigative work. Known for his penchant for minutely tracking high-profile cases with both city and national relevance, he has broken several chargesheets and police remand papers in his six-year-long career. In this present role, he uses his expertise in skimming through lengthy judgements, attending and analysing court hearings and converting them into a lucid, readable format for seamless news consumption. He has a preference for looking beyond the courtroom to highlight their human impact.Read More

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