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New Delhi, April 26, 2026 — Delhi Police have traced the vehicle allegedly used by a group of men who harassed a Hindu College student and her friend in Mukherjee Nagar, northwest Delhi. The development follows a formal complaint that set in motion an investigation into a late-night street incident in the capital’s crowded university belt.
The student’s complaint, recorded at the Mukherjee Nagar police station, describes a sequence of events that began while she and her friend were walking in the area on a Wednesday night. A white car approached them, and the men inside allegedly passed comments at the two women. When the women objected, the men’s behavior turned aggressive, with the occupants abusing them and then beginning to follow them.
The situation escalated when the car stopped again. The complainant alleged that the men attempted to pull her and her friend into the vehicle. Her friend then started recording the car with her phone, and the accused drove off. The students subsequently approached the police, and their account formed the basis for a first information report.
The FIR was registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the criminal code that replaced India’s colonial-era Indian Penal Code in July 2024. The sections invoked include 78, which deals with stalking; 79, which criminalizes words, gestures, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman; and 3(5), which applies to criminal acts committed by multiple people with common intention.
The use of these newer provisions reflects a significant shift in how Indian law defines and prosecutes street harassment. Section 78 now covers repeated unwanted following or contact, while Section 79 is designed to address verbal and non-verbal conduct that degrades or humiliates a woman. The common intention clause allows all those who shared the intent to be held responsible, even if one person acted first.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Akansha Yadav confirmed that investigators used the student’s complaint to trace the vehicle connected to the incident. Police have identified the driver as Naman, a Delhi University student. According to the official update, two to three other people were in the vehicle with him at the time.
Police have not released further identifying details about the other occupants. Officials said the investigation is focused on establishing their exact roles and verifying the sequence of events described by the complainant. The fact that the primary suspect is a university student has sharpened public interest in the case, as the incident took place in an area that is home to thousands of students and civil services aspirants.
One issue investigators are separately examining is the student’s allegation that she and her friend had approached multiple police stations before their complaint was formally registered. If confirmed, that would raise questions about the initial response to the incident, especially at a time when women’s safety is a sensitive issue across Indian cities.
Police officials have not yet commented publicly on why the complaint was not filed at the earliest point, nor have they confirmed which police stations were involved. The review is expected to determine whether there were procedural delays and whether any officer failed to follow the standard protocol for receiving a grievance.
Mukherjee Nagar is a densely populated pocket in northwest Delhi, known for its coaching centers, student hostels, and narrow late-night streets. The case has sparked conversations among local women about the need for more visible policing, better street lighting, and a clearer reporting system for harassment-related complaints.
Student groups in the area have pointed out that many residents walk long distances between metro stations, coaching classes, and rented accommodations, often late in the evening. They argue that incidents like this show why safety infrastructure cannot be limited to well-lit main roads or crowded marketplaces. Community volunteers have also called on police to increase foot patrols during the hours when students are most likely to be outside.
With the vehicle traced, the remaining questions now center on the identity and whereabouts of the other men allegedly involved. Police are likely to examine the driver’s call records, movement history, and CCTV footage from the surrounding streets to establish a clear picture of the incident.
The outcome of the internal review into the handling of the students’ earlier complaints could also shape the case. If delays are found, it may lead to disciplinary action or changes in how local police receive and record women’s safety complaints.
For now, the tracing of the vehicle gives the investigation a solid evidentiary anchor. It also sends a signal that street harassment allegations in the campus area may not be waved off as minor incidents. The complainant and her friend had the presence of mind to record the moment the car stopped; that footage, combined with the traced vehicle, could prove critical if the case moves toward charges and trial.
The police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward, and officials say no public statement about further arrests will be made until the remaining suspects are questioned. The case remains under active investigation, and additional details are expected as the police complete their forensic and electronic evidence review.
