A shocking case of domestic violence emerged from Delhi’s Hauz Qazi area, where a 39-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping his 65-year-old mother twice. The accused claimed he was punishing his mother for an alleged extramarital relationship in her past, a disturbing justification for an extreme violation of trust and human dignity.
According to police and victim accounts, the woman, a homemaker, had recently returned from a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia with her husband and younger daughter when the assaults began. During the pilgrimage, the accused son made multiple calls to his father insisting on the family’s return, alleging that he wanted his father to divorce the mother because of her “bad character.”
After arriving back in Delhi on August 1, the tension in the household escalated drastically. The accused allegedly physically assaulted his mother, forced her to remove her burqa, and locked her in a room where he sexually assaulted her on August 11 and again on August 14. The victim, overwhelmed with fear and shame, initially confided in only her younger daughter, who urged her to report the ordeal to the police.
Details of the Crime and Police Response
The accused, identified as Md Firoz alias Suhel, is an unemployed graduate living with his retired government employee father and two sisters. The family dynamics reportedly deteriorated during the Saudi pilgrimage when the son accused his mother of infidelity dating back to years when his father was away for work. These unfounded allegations led to repeated verbal confrontations.
Upon their return, the situation turned violent. The accused are said to have asserted control through physical abuse, intimidation, and then the sexual violence that has stunned the community. The victim initially sought refuge at her elder daughter’s home but returned home as the threats continued.
Delhi Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including sections related to rape. The accused is in police custody and an investigation is ongoing. Officials have reaffirmed that appropriate victim support services, including counselling and protection, are being provided.
Social and Cultural Context
This tragic case highlights a grave yet underreported form of violence, sexual abuse within the family. Incidents of intrafamilial sexual violence carry immense stigma leading to silence, further victimisation, and challenges in legal recourse. The accused’s justification that his actions were a form of “punishment” for the mother’s past illustrates deep-rooted misogyny, control, and the dangerous consequences of patriarchal thinking.
Experts emphasise that beyond stringent enforcement of laws, there must be comprehensive social awareness campaigns to eradicate such mindsets and empower survivors to seek justice and support. The need for accessible rehabilitation services, safe shelters, and community-based intervention programs is urgently underscored by such cases.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian condemns in the strongest terms all violence inflicted upon women, especially sexual violence that violates the very sanctity of family ties. Families should be spaces of safety, love, and respect. It is unacceptable that victims face not just abuse but also societal neglect and judgement.
We advocate for empathetic dialogue, strengthened legal frameworks, and community engagement to break the silence around domestic violence. Survivors must be supported with dignity and access to justice must be prompt and effective.
