Former DCW chief Swati Maliwal, booked in 2016 for allegedly naming a minor rape victim, has been acquitted by the Delhi Court due to insufficient evidence.
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NEW DELHI: A Delhi Court on Wednesday acquitted former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson and current Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal, along with her then media advisor Bhupinder Singh, in a nearly nine-year-old case linked to the alleged disclosure of a 14-year-old rape victim’s identity in 2016.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal of the Rouse Avenue Court pronounced the verdict, bringing an end to prolonged criminal proceedings under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. A detailed written order is awaited.
Background of the Case
In 2016, a brutal case shocked the capital when a neighbour allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl and forced her to ingest a corrosive substance, severely damaging her internal organs. The teenager succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
Maliwal, then serving as DCW chief, took suo motu cognisance of the incident. The Delhi Police alleged that in the course of her official actions, she and Singh circulated a notice in the print and electronic media that contained the victim’s name, a violation under Section 23(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act, which prohibits disclosing the identity of minors in conflict with or in need of care and protection.
Investigators claimed that Singh prepared the notice and that both accused “intentionally circulated” identifying details of the minor, punishable under Sections 74 and 86 of the Juvenile Justice Act, through WhatsApp groups, potentially compromising the confidentiality of the victim.
High Court Observations Earlier
On February 13, 2025, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Maliwal’s plea seeking to quash the FIR. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that:
“If any form of communication discloses particulars that may lead to identification of a child victim, it constitutes an offence punishable under the Juvenile Justice Act.”
The Court had concluded that a prima facie case existed and that proof would have to be examined during trial.
The Victim’s Tragedy and the Court’s Verdict
The case was rooted in a tragic and complex sequence of events beginning in January 2016, when the victim and her mother alleged kidnapping, confinement, and sexual assault. Over time, the victim’s statements under Section 164 CrPC fluctuated, at times denying the allegations, and at other times claiming police coercion.
Medical records from LNJP Hospital later confirmed a history of sexual assault and corrosive substance ingestion, yet no fresh investigation into the poisoning was conducted. Amid these developments, then DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal intervened, seeking an independent SIT probe and compensation for the victim.
Ultimately, the trial court found insufficient evidence to establish that Maliwal and her then media advisor, Bhupinder Singh, had intentionally violated the Juvenile Justice Act, leading to their acquittal on all charges.
Case Title:
State v. Swati Maliwal JaiHind
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