On the evening of July 30, 2025, a 30-year-old woman was shot in the chest while travelling home in an auto-rickshaw through Delhi’s Vasant Vihar by Abuzair Safi, a man out on interim bail in a rape case she had filed against him the previous year. The incident took place near Poorvi Marg around 9:49 pm.
Safi, accompanied by his accomplice Aman Sukhla, opened fire from a motorcycle. Both accused were swiftly apprehended by Delhi Police within two days. The survivor is receiving treatment at AIIMS Trauma Centre and is reported to be in stable condition. Investigations continue focusing on the connections between the two cases and the circumstances surrounding the violence.
The accused in this violent incident, is reportedly a resident of Okhla Vihar, a bustling residential locality in South East Delhi. He was a manager at a spa in Greater Kailash, which is frequented by locals and clients from neighbouring localities.
Attack and Police Response
The shooting shook the otherwise quiet residential area of Vasant Vihar when the survivor was targeted while talking on her phone in an auto-rickshaw. Two men on a black motorcycle approached the vehicle silently. Safi, the pillion rider, fired a shot at close range.
The timely presence of mind of the autorickshaw driver, Ranjeet Yadav, aided the response; he immediately called the police and rushed the victim to AIIMS Trauma Centre. Police swiftly mobilised, using CCTV footages and technical surveillance to trace the accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Goel confirmed the arrests of both Safi and his accomplice Sukhla within 48 hours. The firearm and the motorbike used in the attack were recovered, and the survivor remained stable and under care.
Background of the Case and Context
The accused had been granted interim bail just a month prior in the rape case filed by the survivor in 2024. Despite multiple attempts to contact the woman, Safi had failed to reconcile or resolve the matter amicably. According to police reports, he began tracking her movements days before the shooting and planned the attack with Sukhla.
This appalling incident starkly exposes the dangers survivors face after reporting sexual violence, especially when the accused enjoys the temporary liberty of bail. It highlights the persistent risks of retaliation, revealing critical gaps in the protective mechanisms designed to shield victims. The incident has sparked a broader conversation on bail provisions and their implications concerning survivor safety.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This tragic incident lays bare the urgent need for reforms, both in terms of legal frameworks and societal attitude, to ensure survivors of violence are protected, supported, and empowered. While the police action in arresting the accused was commendably swift, the attack exposes systemic vulnerabilities that allow perpetrators to intimidate victims, sometimes with grievous consequences.
True justice demands not only the effective prosecution of offenders but also the creation of a safe environment where survivors can come forward without fear of harm or retribution. Cultivating empathy, respect, and kindness throughout society is crucial to fostering coexistence and peace.
