Delhi Rape: "Raped on Street, Nizamuddin Police Refused to File FIR"

Delhi Rape: “Nizamuddin Police Asked Me to Marry or Compromise With the Rapist”

In a shocking case, a middle-aged woman, Ashraya (name changed), was allegedly raped on the streets of Nizamuddin in Delhi on January 18. But what followed was even more disturbing—officers at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station in Delhi refused to file an FIR or even facilitate a medical examination for the victim.

Speaking to The Probe, Ashraya made another chilling revelation: the same man had raped her about four months ago. When she approached the police in distress at that time, instead of taking action, they allegedly advised her to either “compromise” or marry her rapist. “I went to the police seeking justice. They didn’t register an FIR despite my repeated requests. They didn’t take me to the hospital for medical examination. They caught the rapist and brought him to the police station and forced me to make a video confession that I don’t have a case against the rapist,” Ashraya recounted.

As we delved deeper into the case, even more troubling details emerged, raising serious questions about the failure of law enforcement and the systemic negligence that allowed the perpetrator to walk free.

Delhi Rape: “Police Caught and Let-Off Rapist in September; Same Man Raped Me This Month Right on the Streets of Nizamuddin”

Ashraya, the homeless widow struggling to survive on the streets of Delhi, now carries not just the weight of destitution but also the trauma of repeated sexual assault. Living on the footpath near Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station, she was brutally attacked—her face bore deep bite marks, her eyes were swollen shut, her teeth shattered, and bruises covered her frail body.

Originally from Begusarai, Bihar, Ashraya came to Delhi in search of a livelihood. She told us that her husband died a year and a half ago. “Four months ago, Shahid raped me three times in a single day,” she recounted to The Probe, her voice trembling. “First, he attacked me in Chhatri Park in Nizamuddin. Then, before I could even recover, he raped me again in the park. My mother and sister saw what was happening and ran to save me, but by then, it was too late.”

The horror didn’t stop there, she said. “That same day, he dragged me onto a train, took me near Chidiya Ghar, and raped me again.” Severely injured, she said she mustered the strength to walk to the nearest police station near Chidiya Ghar, only to be turned away. “They said I should go to Nizamuddin Police Station because that’s where I live (on the footpath), and they dropped me there in their jeep,” she added.

What happened next raises serious concerns about the role of the police—not just in failing to prevent the crime but in allegedly enabling the rapist to walk free, setting the stag

Delhi Rape: “Nizamuddin Police Asked Me to Marry or Compromise With the Rapist”

In a shocking case, a middle-aged woman, Ashraya (name changed), was allegedly raped on the streets of Nizamuddin in Delhi on January 18. But what followed was even more disturbing—officers at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station in Delhi refused to file an FIR or even facilitate a medical examination for the victim.

Speaking to The Probe, Ashraya made another chilling revelation: the same man had raped her about four months ago. When she approached the police in distress at that time, instead of taking action, they allegedly advised her to either “compromise” or marry her rapist. “I went to the police seeking justice. They didn’t register an FIR despite my repeated requests. They didn’t take me to the hospital for medical examination. They caught the rapist and brought him to the police station and forced me to make a video confession that I don’t have a case against the rapist,” Ashraya recounted.

As we delved deeper into the case, even more troubling details emerged, raising serious questions about the failure of law enforcement and the systemic negligence that allowed the perpetrator to walk free.

Delhi Rape: “Police Caught and Let-Off Rapist in September; Same Man Raped Me This Month Right on the Streets of Nizamuddin”

Ashraya, the homeless widow struggling to survive on the streets of Delhi, now carries not just the weight of destitution but also the trauma of repeated sexual assault. Living on the footpath near Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station, she was brutally attacked—her face bore deep bite marks, her eyes were swollen shut, her teeth shattered, and bruises covered her frail body.

Originally from Begusarai, Bihar, Ashraya came to Delhi in search of a livelihood. She told us that her husband died a year and a half ago. “Four months ago, Shahid raped me three times in a single day,” she recounted to The Probe, her voice trembling. “First, he attacked me in Chhatri Park in Nizamuddin. Then, before I could even recover, he raped me again in the park. My mother and sister saw what was happening and ran to save me, but by then, it was too late.”

The horror didn’t stop there, she said. “That same day, he dragged me onto a train, took me near Chidiya Ghar, and raped me again.” Severely injured, she said she mustered the strength to walk to the nearest police station near Chidiya Ghar, only to be turned away. “They said I should go to Nizamuddin Police Station because that’s where I live (on the footpath), and they dropped me there in their jeep,” she added.

What happened next raises serious concerns about the role of the police—not just in failing to prevent the crime but in allegedly enabling the rapist to walk free, setting the stage for yet another attack on Ashraya just months later.

Delhi Rape: “Police Said, ‘Forgive and Forget; Next Time, He Will Not Rape You’”

When Ashraya walked into the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station, officers refused to register an FIR or send her for a medical examination. Instead, they allegedly presented her with a shocking alternative—either forgive her rapist or marry him.

“When I went to the police station, they wouldn’t file a complaint,” Ashraya told The Probe. “I begged them to conduct a medical examination, but they refused. Then, without even registering an FIR, they caught Shahid and brought him to the station. That’s when they told me to compromise or marry him. I told them I would do neither.”

“Two male officers and a lady cop threatened me,” she continued. “They forced me to record a video saying I had no problem with Shahid, that I would marry and live with him. Then they took my thumb impression on a document—I have no idea what was written on it. I am an uneducated, homeless widow.”

According to Ashraya, what was even more disturbing was the reason the police allegedly gave for protecting the accused. “When I asked them why they were letting him go, they said, ‘He is from our village. We cannot put our village’s reputation at stake.’”

Ashraya says she remembers every officer involved. “I can identify them. I know who they are.”

“If the Police Had Arrested the Rapist in September, He Would Not Have Raped Me in January 2025”

Ashraya’s pain is not just from the repeated assaults, but from the sense of abandonment and betrayal by the very authorities meant to protect her. Reflecting on the past four months, she believes that the police’s failure to take action back in September directly led to her being attacked again on January 18, 2025.

“If the police had arrested him in September, he wouldn’t have raped me again this month,” Ashraya said, her voice filled with anguish. “I feel like the system raped and violated me. He was let off the hook, and that gave him the confidence to attack me once more, right on the streets of Nizamuddin.”

On January 18, Ashraya was assaulted again, this time in broad daylight. “At about 6:30 PM, I was sitting on the street when he dragged me to the side and raped me in full public view,” she recounts. “There were many witnesses. I screamed for help, and when people started gathering, he ran away. But by then, it was too late.”

Delhi Rape: “They Said Kill Her—If She Dies, There Will Be No Case”

Ashraya states that she endured even more violence the following morning. On January 19, around 6 AM, she stated that Shahid, his father and his uncle allegedly assaulted her. This time, they reportedly attempted to silence her permanently.

“They came and beat me badly with lathis and sticks,” Ashraya said. “They said, ‘Let’s kill her and throw her body away. If she dies, there won’t be a case, and there will be no hassle.’ They beat me. Shahid and his uncle even bit my cheeks. You can still see the marks on my cheeks and my whole body.”

But this time, public intervention stopped the attack. “The public came to my rescue, and then all three of them ran away,” Ashraya explained.

Ashraya, desperate and traumatised, dialed the women’s helpline number, 1091. “Someone helped me dial the number, and when the police arrived, they took me in their jeep. But once again, they dropped me off at the Nizamuddin police station.”

A Familiar Face of Betrayal

When Ashraya arrived at the Nizamuddin police station, she told The Probe that she came face to face with the same officers who had previously sided with her rapist. The same officers who had told her to either compromise with the man who attacked her or marry him.

“I was shocked to see the same cops again,” Ashraya recounted. “I was wounded and bleeding, and when I begged them for help, they told me to just go away. They even reminded me of the video confession I had recorded earlier, where they forced me to say that I forgave my rapist.”

Systemic Neglect: How Police Failed Ashraya Repeatedly

The Probe reached out to Nirmal Gorana, a social activist known for rescuing child bonded labourers across the country. Gorana, the founder of the Mehnatkash Association, first came into contact with Ashraya in 2016 when she was struggling to provide for her children.

“In December 2016, I was informed about two children being forced into bonded labour in Moti Nagar,” Gorana recalled. “Along with the local administration of Patel Nagar, we rescued them and reunited them with their mother. That’s how I came to know Ashraya as she was the mother of the children. She comes from an extremely impoverished background.”

Gorana revealed that when the Nizamuddin police refused to register an FIR after Ashraya was raped four months ago, she had approached him in distress. “She came to me crying, and I immediately drafted a complaint, took her thumb impression, and contacted the SHO of Nizamuddin police station,” he said. “I told him this was a serious case and urged him to register the FIR and get her medical examination done. But shockingly, the police did neither. Instead, they caught the rapist and asked her to compromise with him.”

According to Gorana, when Ashraya was raped again on January 18 by the same man, she returned to the police station multiple times seeking justice but was ignored. Helpless, she reached out to Gorana again, this time with severe injuries.

“This time, she was badly injured,” Gorana said. “I arranged for a lawyer to accompany her to the Nizamuddin police station. But you won’t believe what happened next—the police flatly refused to register the case. They even told the lawyer not to waste time on cases involving homeless people.”

Delhi Rape: Advocate’s Ordeal at the Police Station

The Probe also spoke to Ashraya’s lawyer, Sumayya Khatoon, a human rights advocate who took up her case this month. Khatoon said the behaviour of the police was shocking when she attempted to seek justice for Ashraya.

“The SHO told me that Ashraya had already compromised with the man a few months ago and that they had a video as proof,” Khatoon said. “I told him—even if that were true, that doesn’t give the man the right to rape her now. But the SHO simply refused to register the FIR.”

Khatoon further stated that despite repeatedly reminding the police of their legal obligation to record the victim’s statement, the officers remained dismissive. “I told the SHO he was duty-bound to register the case, take her statement, and ensure she received medical treatment. He refused to even acknowledge my complaint. After much insistence, I managed to get an acknowledgment, but it was given reluctantly.”

What the police said next left Khatoon stunned. “The SHO shamelessly told me not to take up cases involving homeless people. He said it would ruin my reputation as an advocate,” she recounted. “This was one of the most shocking experiences of my career.”

Zero FIR - A Farce? 

In cases of sexual violence, the law in India is unequivocal: police officials are duty-bound to register an FIR immediately, regardless of jurisdiction. The concept of Zero FIR ensures that a survivor can lodge an FIR at any police station without having to face jurisdictional issues. The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly ruled that failing to register an FIR in such cases amounts to a punishable offense.

Moreover, any public servant, including police officers, who refuses to record information related to sexual offenses can face action including imprisonment. "By refusing to register an FIR, denying medical aid, and coercing Ashraya into silence, the police violated the law and blatantly disregarded her fundamental rights under the Constitution, which guarantees her the right to life and dignity," stated Khatoon.

Safdarjung Hospital Report: The Harrowing Reality of Ashraya’s Ordeal

Ashraya’s physical and emotional torment did not end with the police’s refusal to file an FIR. As a homeless widow, she had no support system to turn to for help. She spent days on the footpath, profusely bleeding and writhing in pain, with no assistance from the authorities. It wasn’t until January 24, 2025, that Ashraya managed to summon the strength to walk to Safdarjung Hospital herself, desperately seeking medical attention.

The Probe has obtained Ashraya’s medico-legal report from Safdarjung Hospital, which reveals the extent of the abuse she endured. Despite the significant delay in seeking medical attention due to her inability to access help, the medical findings remain unequivocal. The report outlines severe physical injuries sustained by Ashraya, which are described as “Physical injuries present, suggestive of use of force… Penetration cannot be ruled out”. 

The medico-legal report highlights multiple injuries on Ashraya's body, including bite marks, bruising, and abrasions, which indicate the brutality of the assault. While the report recognises the physical evidence of sexual assault, the delay in Ashraya’s medical examination due to the failure of the police to act in a timely manner cannot be ignored. The impact of this delay on the accuracy and completeness of the medical findings is significant. 

Another Shocker from the Police: Alleged Rapist is Her Husband, Claims Nizamuddin SHO to The Probe

The Probe reached out to Pankaj Kumar, the SHO of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Police Station, seeking clarification on the case and the reasons behind the police’s refusal to file an FIR in Ashraya’s sexual assault case. In a conversation that was recorded for public interest and in the interest of the victim, the SHO provided a troubling explanation.

Kumar justified the police's actions, stating: “We didn’t register the FIR because earlier also she tried to register an FIR against her husband, and then she compromised and closed the complaint.” When The Probe pointed out that Ashraya’s husband had passed away a year and a half ago, and that the alleged rapist was not her husband, Kumar responded, “Madam, this is a fight between husband and wife.”

This statement from the SHO is deeply concerning, as it dismisses the gravity of the sexual assault by labeling it as a mere domestic dispute. Ashraya, who had been allegedly sexually assaulted in public and subjected to repeated abuse, has clearly stated that the rapist is not her deceased husband but another man.

When pressed for further clarification on how the SHO could label the rapist as Ashraya’s husband without evidence, and about the police intimidation Ashraya allegedly faced, Kumar stated: “I have proof. They are husband and wife. I have a reply for everything. This is not the right time to talk to you. I am busy at a rally.”

Despite clear signs of sexual assault, medical reports, and corroborating testimonies, the police have failed to take appropriate action, leaving Ashraya to fend for herself.

On January 29, 2025, the SHO once again contacted The Probe, stating: “Please send Ashraya to me. Let me see what I can do. Let me see if I can take up the case from your point of view.” However, The Probe reiterated the victim’s concerns, stressing that Ashraya had already allegedly faced harassment at the police station, leading to fears for her safety. It was clear that sending Ashraya back to the same officers who had allegedly failed her would only worsen the situation.

The central question that remains unanswered is why the Nizamuddin police, despite having Ashraya’s signed statement detailing both the previous and recent assaults, failed to register an FIR. The evidence is overwhelming: Ashraya’s video confession to The Probe, medical report from Safdarjung hospital, pictures of her injured body, the confessions of the social activist, her lawyer’s account of police misconduct, and even a recorded conversation with the SHO where he states that the person who Ashraya calls 'rapist' is in fact her husband.

The most basic action that the police could have taken was to record Ashraya’s statement, conduct a medical examination, and allow the court to determine the truth. Instead, they allowed a heinous crime to go unpunished.

Delhi Rape: The Unheard Story of a Vulnerable Woman

While high-profile cases like the RG Kar rape and murder case have captured national attention, Ashraya’s case has remained largely ignored. Khatoon, Ashraya’s lawyer, offers a sobering explanation: “It is because she is not privileged. Ashraya is a widow. She is a destitute. She is a homeless person. She is a beggar on the street. She is not a doctor or an engineer. In our country, justice wakes up late even for the privileged. You can imagine the plight of the lesser mortals.”

For Ashraya, her fight for justice has become a battle against both the brutality of the assault and the apathy of the system. In her own words: “He violated me. Not once, not twice, not thrice. Many times. On the streets of this city of the rich. He is a rapist. He is not my husband. He is a rapist. My husband died long ago. I am a widow. Today, I can’t even stay on the street, and I cannot show my face to anyone. I have been raped, assaulted, and humiliated. Where do I go now? I don’t need money. I only need that he must be behind bars, and I need a safe place to hide my face.”