The Delhi High Court has ruled that a woman can be charged with gang rape under Section 376D of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), stating there is no basis to restrict the term 'persons' in the law to only men.
A man accused of raping a six-year-old girl was arrested in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, following an exchange of fire with police. The accused, Avdhram alias Bhole Shankar, sustained a gunshot injury and was apprehended. Police recovered a country-made pistol and cartridges, and a reward was announced for the arresting team.
A 22-year-old Uttar Pradesh resident, Ubaid, has been arrested in Shimla under the POCSO Act following a complaint from a minor's family alleging misbehaviour. Police have registered a case and warned against spreading misinformation after locals paraded two other individuals.
An 85-year-old man has been arrested in Thane's Dombivali township for allegedly sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl. The incident occurred when the girl was playing outside her home, and the accused lured her into his house. Police have registered a case under the BNS and POCSO Act.
A 14-year-old girl, missing for a month, has been found in Gurugram. Police have arrested an individual from Rajasthan and charged him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault on a student activist's father during a protest at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj was detained after claiming he "cracked the skull" of the victim and escaped arrest due to political connections. Additional charges under the SC/ST Act, criminal intimidation, POCSO Act, and IT Act have also been added.
The Supreme Court has granted the Centre a final opportunity to present measures taken to prevent the circulation of child sexual exploitation and abuse material on social media platforms, following a petition highlighting inconsistent compliance by intermediaries.
A man in Latur was arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a 17-year-old girl. He reportedly convinced her that she had a 'dosh' (affliction) in her horoscope and committed the crime under the guise of performing corrective rituals. The accused was booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, POCSO Act, and the state's Anti-Superstition Act.
The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash the POCSO Act case filed against former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, upholding the trial court's order to proceed with the case.
A fast-track court in Nashik, Maharashtra, has sentenced Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. The court described the crime as "rarest of the rare," stating that leniency would undermine public confidence in justice. The judge highlighted the extreme depravity of the act, committed on November 16, 2025, and ruled out life imprisonment, also directing Rs 10 lakh compensation to the victim's parents.
A 19-year-old man was arrested in Chennai for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl he befriended on social media. Police acted swiftly on the mother's complaint. The article also mentions a separate arrest of a school principal under the POCSO Act and clarifies another ongoing investigation.
'My daughter was raped and killed, but CBI and the double engine government failed to find any accused.'
A 14-year-old girl, missing for a month, has been found in Gurugram. Police have arrested a 19-year-old man from Rajasthan and charged him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
A fast-track court in Nashik, Maharashtra, has sentenced Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl late last year. The court termed the gruesome crime "rarest of the rare" and also ordered Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for the victim's family. The prosecution, led by Ujwal Nikam, relied on circumstantial evidence and witness testimonies to secure the conviction.
A Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur has sentenced a 33-year-old migrant labourer, Nanke Yadav alias Radhe Sham, to death for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old boy. The court termed it a 'rarest of rare' case, with the death sentence subject to confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The state government has directed the concerned officials in Jamui to ensure speedy punishment for the accused in the case to send a message that the government will not tolerate such incidents.
A girl was allegedly molested in public in Darbhanga, Bihar, by two motorcycle-borne individuals. Police apprehended both accused, including a minor, within five hours. The incident has drawn political comparisons to a similar case in Jamui, leading to a blame game between the RJD and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
A Palghar court has sentenced Madhu Dharma Govari to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor boy. The court rejected the defence's claim of improbability in a crowded locality, emphasizing that "bystander apathy" does not undermine a victim's testimony. Forensic evidence and the victim's credible account corroborated the conviction under POCSO Act and IPC.
The Supreme Court has ruled that an investigating agency must seek a magistrate's approval for re-arresting an individual if they were previously released due to a breach of constitutional rights, such as not being informed of arrest grounds or being detained beyond 24 hours. This judgment reinforces the importance of Articles 22(1) and 22(2) and introduces stricter accountability measures for police officers.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, accused of sexual abuse, has filed a case against his accuser under the POCSO Act, claiming the law allows action against false accusations. He has also sought anticipatory bail from the Allahabad High Court.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has called for an independent review of the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) coaching appointments, citing concerns about transparency, eligibility criteria, and potential conflicts of interest. The NRAI, however, asserts that appointments are merit-based and views Kumar's concerns as 'sour grapes' after his own non-selection.
Delhi Police have apprehended the cousin of a man stabbed to death during an armed robbery, along with other accused and a juvenile. The cousin allegedly tipped off assailants about the victim's cash movements. The police used extensive CCTV and ANPR analysis to trace the culprits, recovering a significant portion of the stolen cash. Three other accused remain at large.
Delhi Police have arrested three long-absconding proclaimed offenders, including two wanted under the POCSO Act and one in an attempted murder case, following a multi-state operation across Bihar and Jharkhand.
The Kerala High Court has quashed a case booked under the POCSO Act against six journalists of Malayalam news channel Asianet for allegedly disclosing the identity of a minor victim of sexual assault in a program on the ill effects of drug abuse. The court said that the channel's intention was not to disclose the victim's identity and that the program was intended to alert the public about the increasing drug abuse among youngsters in Kerala. The court also criticized some media outlets for reporting allegations without proper investigation or inquiry.
A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in jail and fined Rs 10,000 for molesting an 11-year-old girl in Delhi's Nihal Vihar area.
A 52-year-old government school headmaster in Hoshiarpur has been arrested for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl earlier this month. The case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with investigations ongoing.
As of December 2025, India had 880 Fast-Track Courts with 1.39 million pending cases, despite disposing of 1.33 million cases during the year.
A man accused under the POCSO Act, who escaped from a Mumbai hospital while receiving treatment, has been re-arrested in Ambernath, Thane district.
The Telangana High Court will decide on the interim anticipatory bail petition of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son, Bandi Sai Bageerath, in a POCSO case. The court also directed the police to verify the victim's birth certificates.
Bihar police are investigating multiple past incidents of molestation and moral policing across several districts, including Kishanganj, Banka, and Samastipur, following recent public outrage. These cases, some months or even a year old, involve vigilante groups harassing individuals, often for inter-faith interactions, and have led to arrests and significant political controversy.
A man identified as Asif, accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl near Kalkaji Mandir, has been arrested following a police encounter in southeast Delhi. Asif, one of three men who allegedly posed as policemen, fired at the police team before being shot in the leg during the exchange. The incident occurred in Astha Kunj Park, and police are now searching for the other two accused.
A special POCSO court in Mumbai has granted a four-day temporary bail to an 18-year-old man accused of rape, allowing him to appear for the NEET retest. The decision was made after the victim gave her no objection, with the court imposing strict conditions on the accused, including a bond of Rs 50,000 and a directive to surrender after the exam.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj has criticised the Delhi government's handling of women's safety after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped at Aastha Kunj Park, leading Lady Shri Ram College to shift classes online. Bharadwaj questioned the BJP government's achievements in ensuring safety and highlighted daily crimes against women, while also alleging harassment of opposition leaders.
The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of a man convicted of sexually assaulting and strangling his six-year-old step-daughter to life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. The court affirmed his conviction but cited mitigating circumstances and the state's failure to exclude the possibility of his reformation, while also highlighting issues with the trial court's sentencing procedure.
Maoist leader Azad alias Dana Keshab Rao has been released after spending over 15 years in jail as an undertrial prisoner, following his acquittal in all 49 cases registered against him in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
A teacher at a government residential school in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district has been accused of sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl and other students. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with efforts underway to apprehend the accused. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has ordered a thorough probe, strict action, and directed district authorities to enhance vigilance and conduct regular inspections of girls' hostels and residential schools to ensure child safety.
A special POCSO court in Vadodara has sentenced five men to life imprisonment for the gang-rape of a minor girl during Navratri two years ago. The court described the crime as "most heinous" and ordered Rs 10 lakh compensation for the survivor, emphasising the seriousness of violence against women, especially during a religious festival.
World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat announced that women wrestlers will appeal a Delhi court's decision to acquit former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case. Phogat expressed deep sadness over the verdict and alleged that Singh used his influence to intimidate complainants, but affirmed the wrestlers' resolve to continue their fight for justice.
Self-proclaimed Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was questioned by Delhi Police during his remand in connection with an alleged assault on a student activist's father at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj, who showed no remorse, was confronted with his viral videos. The case now includes charges under the SC/ST Act and POCSO Act, following outrage and further complaints.
Several BJP candidates contesting in the Kerala Assembly elections face pending criminal cases, primarily related to protests and agitations, according to their nomination papers. The affidavits also reveal details of their assets and liabilities.
