A new report indicates a significant rise in reported sexual offences against children in India, but also highlights strong prosecution rates and detection systems.
A 19-year-old migrant worker from Bihar has been arrested in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, for the alleged sexual assault of a three-year-old girl, also from Bihar, who tragically died from her injuries.
The newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaces the British-era Indian Penal Code, has made sexual offences "gender neutral" for the victim and the perpetrator, according to official documents.
The National Medical Commission has reintroduced 'sodomy and lesbianism' as unnatural sexual offences in the forensic medicine and toxicology curriculum for undergraduate medical students.
Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty urges mandatory counsellors in schools to support children facing sexual offences during a debate on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
National para archery coach Kuldeep Vedwan has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually harassing a minor athlete. The Fast Track Special Court in Sonipat convicted Vedwan under the POCSO Act, following allegations dating back to April 2023.
A special court in Thane acquitted an auto rickshaw driver accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2020, as the victim and her mother could not be traced during the trial.
A speech-and-hearing impaired man was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gondia court for sexually assaulting a seven-and-half-year-old girl in May 2024.
Police in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly raping his 15-year-old daughter. The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the victim's mother, leading to a case registered under the stringent POCSO Act.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports about the alleged sexual exploitation and rape of a woman and her minor daughter by their landlord in Gujarat's Morbi district.
A 16-year-old boy has been detained in Beed, Maharashtra, for allegedly sexually abusing a six-year-old girl. The incident occurred when the boy lured the girl into his house with the offer of fruit, after which he allegedly sexually abused her. He has been booked under the POCSO Act.
A mosque cleric in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, has been booked under the POCSO Act and BNS Act for allegedly raping a minor. The accused, Imam Zakir Ali, is currently absconding, and police have launched a search operation following a complaint from the victim's family.
Palghar police have arrested a 23-year-old man from Bharuch, Gujarat, after a multi-state manhunt in connection with the alleged rape and blackmail of a woman and her minor sister. The case, registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, had drawn political attention with BJP MLC Chitra Wagh demanding swift action.
The Maharashtra legislative council has unanimously passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill 2026, incorporating provisions from the Shakti Bill to protect acid attack victims' identities and penalise digital sexual harassment.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of a report on alleged large-scale sexual exploitation of women and minor girls in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, following the arrest of a man for allegedly coercing a young woman into physical relations. The NCW has directed the Maharashtra Director General of Police to take immediate action and submit a detailed report within seven days.
A special court in Pune has sentenced 65-year-old Bhimrao Kamble to death for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a three-year-old girl in Nasrapur village. The victim's family expressed satisfaction with the verdict and called for its swift execution. The court termed the crime "rarest of the rare," delivering the sentence within 60 days of the incident.
According to the latest NCRB data, close acquaintances are the primary offenders in 96.6 per cent of child sexual abuse cases in India. The report highlights the involvement of family members, friends, and online contacts in these offences, with Tamil Nadu reporting the highest number of cases.
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.
A special POCSO court in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, has convicted a school teacher of molesting female students and sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.
A special court in Mumbai has denied bail to a 24-year-old man accused of sexually harassing and defaming a woman and her minor daughter on a live-streaming platform, citing concerns that he may intimidate the victims if released.
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.
Locals in Shimla paraded several residents from Uttar Pradesh following allegations of a man harassing and blackmailing a 16-year-old girl. Police have registered a case under the POCSO Act and BNS, while also warning against mob justice and unlawful activities.
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.
UK police have made several arrests as part of an investigation into serious offences alleged to have involved members of an Ahmadi sect in north-west England.
The Bombay High Court has ruled that delay in lodging an FIR for sexual assault and harassment cases cannot be the sole ground for quashing a criminal prosecution, especially given the societal challenges families face in reporting such incidents. The court dismissed a petition by a man accused of molesting his domestic help, rejecting his arguments about delayed complaint and false implication.
A 41-year-old man in Kerala has been sentenced to 53 years in prison for the aggravated penetrative sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The Nadapuram Fast Track Special Court Judge Devan K Menon sentenced Muhammed Reyhan under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the IPC.
UK police have made several arrests as part of an investigation into serious offences alleged to have involved members of an Ahmadi sect in north-west England.
Gurugram police have arrested three individuals, including two female domestic helpers and their male accomplice, in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 3-year-old girl. The arrests follow a Supreme Court decision to hear a plea for a CBI or SIT investigation into the case.
A 29-year-old man was arrested in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly abducting and raping a five-year-old girl. The incident occurred on June 11 when the girl was with her grandfather. Police rescued the girl, confirmed sexual assault, and arrested the accused, Chandan Kumar Shah, under BNS and POCSO Act provisions.
A special court in Mumbai has denied bail to a cricket coach accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old trainee, citing the gravity of the offence and the risk of him re-offending or absconding.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son, Bhageerath, has petitioned the Telangana High Court for anticipatory bail in a POCSO case involving allegations of sexual harassment of a minor. He has also filed a petition to quash the criminal case. The case was registered based on a complaint by the mother of the alleged victim.
A 19-year-old youth, Nitin Ganesh Salunkhe, accused of stalking and sexually harassing a girl under the POCSO Act, has been acquitted by a special court in Belapur. The acquittal came after the victim turned hostile during the trial, denying any knowledge of the accused or the incident.
The police have registered a case against a Nagpur madrasa teacher's male friend for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a minor boy, and rescued 10 children from the facility, officials said on Tuesday.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has directed police to promptly register cases, investigate expeditiously, and ensure stringent punishment for those involved in sexual crimes, following a series of incidents including the murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore.
A 41-year-old woman in Gurugram was allegedly sexually assaulted and threatened by a group of drunken men after a multi-vehicle road accident near Rajiv Chowk. The men reportedly recorded her video, made sexually coloured remarks, and threatened to circulate the footage online. Police have arrested two accused, Kamal Verma and Sujal Verma, who were previously involved in criminal cases, and are searching for three others.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) will soon submit recommendations to the Centre seeking a complete ban on parole for convicts in rape, aggravated sexual assault, and other serious offences against women and children.
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly abducting and raping a five-year-old girl. The incident occurred when the girl was with her grandfather, and the accused fled with her on a motorcycle. Police rescued the girl and confirmed sexual assault, subsequently arresting the accused and seizing his vehicle.
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in Palghar, Maharashtra, for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl under the pretext of marriage. The victim initially delayed reporting the incident due to fear of social defamation. The accused faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and POCSO Act, with further investigation underway.
Tamil Nadu minister Rajmohan has asserted the state government is taking proactive measures to curb crime against children, following the sexual assault and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore. The minister detailed the government's approach of strict policing and public participation to prevent such crimes, while also hinting at the revival of student union elections in colleges across the state.
Delhi Police have requested the Delhi High Court to cancel the bail granted to a staff member accused of raping a three-year-old girl in a private school in Janakpuri.
