The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has acquitted former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal and others in a case linked to the alleged disclosure of a minor rape victim’s identity. The case originated from a FIR, which accused Maliwal of violating provisions safeguarding the anonymity of sexual assault survivors. The complaint alleged that, on July 22, 2016, the DCW issued a notice to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Burari in which the name of a 14-year-old Dalit girl — who had died following sexual assault — was mentioned, as per reports.
After examining the evidence, Additional chief judicial magistrate Neha Mittal acquitted Maliwal, bringing the nearly decade-old case to a close.
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In 2016, Delhi Police registered a case against Swati Maliwal, then chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, alleging that she violated provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, which safeguard the identity of minors in sexual offence cases, as reported by PTI.
The case related to a minor girl who died on July 23, 2016, in a hospital after being sexually assaulted by her neighbour, who allegedly forced a corrosive substance down her throat, causing severe internal injuries.
According to police, Maliwal had issued a notice to the area deputy commissioner of police seeking details about the investigation. This notice, which reportedly contained the victim’s name, was shared with print and electronic media.
The FIR claimed that the notice was “deliberately circulated” in multiple WhatsApp groups and was also aired by television channels.