The pendency of rape cases in courts rose from 83 per cent in 2013 to 89 per cent in 2024, while the conviction rate fell from 27 per cent to 23 per cent in the same period.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain self-styled godman Asaram's plea challenging the Gujarat High Court's order denying him bail in the 2013 Gandhinagar rape case. Asaram, who is currently on parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court in another rape case, had sought bail to visit his ailing wife. The court noted his parole status and will hear his appeal against conviction in the Jodhpur case after his surrender on November 17.
The Punjab government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a rape case in Anandpur Sahib involving former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The SIT aims to address several unanswered questions regarding the alleged incident, including the complainant's arrival from Bahrain and her stay at an SGPC-managed lodge. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has assured a swift, transparent, and in-depth investigation.
The Punjab government has established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe a rape case in Anandpur Sahib involving former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. The SIT, headed by Gurbans Singh Bains, aims to answer critical questions surrounding the woman's arrival from Bahrain, her stay at an SGPC lodge, and the circumstances of the alleged incident. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured a transparent and time-bound investigation.
The BJP has accused AAP leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, of operating a corruption syndicate in Punjab. The allegations claim that middlemen, allegedly on behalf of Mann and his wife, demanded bribes of up to Rs 5 crore to settle rape cases. The National Human Rights Commission has ordered an inquiry into a complaint regarding these allegations.
A Bahraich court has sentenced a young man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 54,000 in a rape case from four years ago. The convict, a juvenile at the time of the incident, was identified through DNA evidence after the victim became pregnant. He will be held at a 'Government Place of Safety' until he turns 21, then transferred to district jail.
A 50-year-old man, Mahavir Yadav, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. The co-accused, Navi Chand Yadav, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The incident occurred on September 15, 2025, and the verdict was pronounced on Monday.
The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has discharged Congress MP Rakesh Rathore in a rape case, ruling that the prosecution material indicated a long-standing consensual relationship between him and the complainant, contrary to allegations of rape on the promise of marriage. The court deemed the allegations contradictory and unfounded, setting aside a lower court's order.
A 17-year-old girl in Raigad, Maharashtra, was allegedly raped repeatedly by five individuals, including two minors, resulting in her pregnancy. The adult accused have been arrested, and the minors detained. The crime came to light after her pregnancy was discovered, leading to a case being registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act.
A special court in Muzaffarnagar has sentenced a man named Bittu to life imprisonment for raping a six-year-old girl in 2024. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000, which will be given to the survivor. The incident occurred on November 10, 2024, when the girl was abducted and raped at her home, leading to Bittu's conviction under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act.
Gurugram police have arrested a deaf and non-speaking man, Adnan Khan, for allegedly raping a woman with similar disabilities. The victim met Khan through Instagram and was lured to Gurugram on the pretext of a job. She alleges he drugged and raped her on February 14, threatening her afterwards. A Zero FIR was initially filed in Lucknow before the case was transferred to Gurugram.
The Delhi High Court has permitted the termination of a 31-week pregnancy for a 16-year-old sexual assault victim, citing that it would not be appropriate to burden the minor with childbirth and raising a child. The court recognised the termination as a human right affecting the victim's dignified existence and directed the state to cover medical expenses, ensuring foetal tissue preservation for DNA testing and offering adoption if the child is born alive.
Police in Chatra, Jharkhand, have arrested two individuals, including a minor boy, in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl. The incident came to light after the victim was hospitalised due to deteriorated health, and a Zero FIR led to the arrests.
A Delhi court has remanded three accused Asif, Hemant, and Mukesh to 14 days' judicial custody in connection with the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park. The accused allegedly posed as policemen, threatened the victim and her friend, and then raped the girl. One accused, Asif, was arrested after an encounter with the police.
Police in Thane have formed six teams to apprehend former BJP MLA Narendra Pawar and dismissed police officer Shailendra Patil, who are accused of raping a 22-year-old woman at a farmhouse. The duo has been absconding since the FIR was registered, and crucial CCTV footage from the farmhouse is also missing.
Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has sent a legal notice to a former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge. This action follows allegations that she sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued a notice to the Punjab government and police chief regarding the complaint, which has drawn criticism from opposition leaders like Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Bikram Singh Majithia. The NHRC has directed an inquiry into the matter, citing potential human rights violations.
A man identified as Asif, accused of raping a 17-year-old girl near Kalkaji Mandir, was arrested after a police encounter in southeast Delhi. Two other suspects, an advocate and his brother, are being questioned. Asif allegedly fired at police during interception, leading to an exchange of fire where he was injured and subsequently apprehended. The incident involved three men posing as policemen, abducting the girl and her friend, and then raping the girl in Astha Kunj Park.
A special POCSO court in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced Kapil Sharma to 20 years in prison and imposed a Rs 60,000 fine for raping a minor girl in February 2021.
The Kerala High Court has affirmed the conviction and life imprisonment of a former state government employee found guilty of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl over 45 days in 2009. The court dismissed the accused's appeal, stating the victim's testimony was "sterling quality" and corroborated by medical evidence, rejecting claims of false implication.
The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against 15 individuals in the Kishtwar minor's rape and death case. The chargesheet alleges a criminal conspiracy to conceal the sexual assault, intimidate the victim's family, and illegally terminate her advanced pregnancy. The 15-year-old tribal girl died on August 20 following an alleged abortion attempt after being repeatedly sexually assaulted by a teacher, resulting in pregnancy. Accused include the main perpetrator, health workers, and community elders involved in the cover-up and pressure tactics.
The Supreme Court has directed media outlets, journalists, and publishing platforms to practice responsible, empathetic, and restrained journalism when reporting sexual offences. The court highlighted that sensationalist headlines and graphic descriptions cause secondary trauma to victims and their families, urging media to prioritise dignity, factual accuracy, and institutional accountability.
Police in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district have arrested two youths, Joy Pal and Debabrata Mallick, for allegedly raping two girls, including a 13-year-old. The arrests followed a complaint after one victim went missing, and further investigation revealed a second victim. A case has been registered under the POCSO Act.
A Gurugram court has sentenced a 24-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000 for raping a minor girl. The conviction followed a complaint lodged in September 2022, leading to the accused's arrest, investigation, and effective prosecution by Gurugram Police.
A delegation from Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe rape allegations against former SGPC member Amarjit Singh Chawla. Chawla resigned after being booked for rape, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation. The delegation highlighted serious questions surrounding the case, including the woman's travel, arrest, and stay in various facilities, and expressed concern over the impact on revered Sikh institutions.
A Delhi court has framed charges against a bus driver and conductor for the alleged kidnapping and gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl inside a sleeper bus in August. The accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with the trial set to begin with the victim's evidence on October 24.
Actress Florence Pugh has voiced strong support for a Cornell University student who was allegedly gang-raped, criticising the university's lenient handling of the accused. Pugh expressed her outrage at the systemic failure to protect women and the disproportionate consequences faced by victims versus perpetrators.
The Calcutta High Court has ordered the immediate arrest of Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel in connection with a rape case and instructed police to seize his electronic devices to safeguard the complainant's privacy during the investigation.
The Jharkhand High Court has issued comprehensive directives for handling rape cases, mandating swift investigations, prohibiting the two-finger test, ensuring victim rehabilitation, and protecting victim identity. The court also directed support for children born out of rape incidents.
A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the alleged delay in medical care for a 13-year-old girl in Jharkhand who died after an alleged gang-rape and assault. The two-member panel visited Gumla and Simdega districts, speaking with the family and examining documents, as police continue their investigation into the incident.
Jharkhand police have detained two teenagers in Bokaro for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl and filming the act, while in Jamtara, three middle-aged men were arrested for the alleged rape of a 35-year-old woman. Investigations are ongoing in both cases, with legal actions initiated under relevant acts.
Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has surrendered before a Goa court to begin serving his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case. This follows a Supreme Court directive and his conviction by the Bombay High Court, which overturned his earlier acquittal. Tejpal's appeal against his conviction is slated for a Supreme Court hearing in September 2026.
A 19-year-old student in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly raped by a relative of her landlord on Thursday night. Police have registered a case based on the mother's complaint and are actively searching for the 22-year-old accused.
The Congress and BJP in Uttarakhand are engaged in a war of words over the alleged Champawat rape case, which police have now deemed a fabricated incident stemming from a long-standing dispute. Both parties accuse each other of political manipulation and attempting to tarnish the other's image.
Two sub-inspectors and a head constable of Bareilly Police were suspended for serious irregularities and arbitrary conduct while probing a rape case.
Keralam police have arrested Siddhab Gamidanga, 24, from Odisha in connection with a rape case in Ernakulam. He allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant, took nude photos, and threatened to circulate them. He fled to Odisha after the case was registered but was traced and brought back to Keralam on a transit warrant.
A Thane court acquitted a 27-year-old man in a kidnapping and rape case, citing the victim's adult status and voluntary accompaniment. The court emphasised the victim's capacity to make her own decisions, leading to the acquittal.
A man accused in a 1987 rape case was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district after being on the run for nearly 39 years.
Achraf Hakimi says he is ready to face trial after a French appeals court reportedly rejected his challenge to a rape case referral. The Morocco and PSG defender insists he will finally get the chance to tell his side of the story.
Bengal wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel scored an unbeaten century in a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, breaking down in tears afterwards and stating, 'I want to answer everyone through cricket' in response to an alleged rape case.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted regular bail to AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra in a rape case registered against him last year, with conditions including surrendering his passport and reporting to the police station twice a month.
