Delhi POCSO case: 13-year-old assaulted by father in Jahangirpuri, accused absconding
Synopsis
A 13-year-old girl in Delhi's Jahangirpuri has alleged sexual assault by her own father, who threatened to kill her and her mother if she spoke out. The accused remains at large. The case echoes a recent Delhi incident where a stepdaughter was found pregnant after prolonged abuse — raising urgent questions about child safety within households.
Key Takeaways
A 13-year-old girl in Jahangirpuri, Delhi allegedly assaulted by her father, Shakir Ali , on 7 July .
A POCSO Act case has been registered at Mahindra Park police station following a complaint by the victim's mother.
The accused threatened to kill the survivor and her mother if the incident was disclosed, according to the police statement.
Shakir Ali is currently absconding; police say efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.
The case follows a recent Delhi incident involving a 13-year-old stepdaughter found five months pregnant after sustained abuse by her stepfather.
A 13-year-old girl in Jahangirpuri, Delhi has allegedly been sexually assaulted by her own father, police said on Sunday, 19 July. A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Mahindra Park police station following a complaint filed by the victim's mother. The accused father has since absconded and a search is underway.
What the Complaint States
According to the police, the complainant's daughter alleged that on 7 July, her father — identified as Shakir Ali, a resident of Badli Village — came to their residence in Jahangirpuri when her mother and 10-year-old brother were not present.
The survivor alleged that Ali 'established forcible physical relations with her against her will and threatened to kill her and her mother if she disclosed the incident to anyone,' according to the police statement. The mother and daughter live separately from Ali, who reportedly resides with the victim's grandmother in Badli Village.
Police Response and Search Operations
'The accused is absconding, and efforts are being made to trace and apprehend him,' officials confirmed. No arrest has been made as of the time of reporting. Further details in the case are awaited, police said.
A Disturbing Pattern in the Capital
This case comes just months after another deeply troubling incident in Delhi, in which a man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old stepdaughter over a period of more than a year. In that case, the minor was found to be approximately five months pregnant when police intervened. She was shifted to hospital and placed in a safe environment following preliminary investigation.
Notably, both cases involve minor girls victimised by a male guardian within the home — a pattern that child rights advocates say reflects a broader failure of protective mechanisms for children in vulnerable domestic situations. POCSO cases in Delhi have seen a steady rise in recent years, with a significant proportion involving known perpetrators.
Legal Framework and What Happens Next
Under the POCSO Act, sexual assault of a minor by a parent or guardian attracts aggravated punishment, with a minimum sentence of 10 years and the possibility of life imprisonment. Investigating officers are required to complete the inquiry within a stipulated timeframe, and the case must be tried by a designated Special Court.
The Delhi Police is actively working to locate and detain Shakir Ali. Child welfare authorities are expected to be involved in the survivor's rehabilitation and support process as the investigation progresses.
Point of View
The victim a minor girl, and the home — meant to be the safest space — was the site of the crime. POCSO's aggravated-punishment provisions for familial abuse exist precisely for such scenarios, yet the law's deterrent effect is clearly insufficient. The more urgent gap is institutional: child welfare systems rarely intervene before a complaint is filed, and complaints in intra-family abuse cases are chronically underreported due to economic dependence and fear of retaliation. Delhi Police's ability to swiftly apprehend the absconding accused will be a test of operational seriousness, not just legal process.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Jahangirpuri POCSO case in Delhi?
A 13-year-old girl in Jahangirpuri, Delhi, has alleged that her father, Shakir Ali, sexually assaulted her on 7 July when her mother and brother were away. He also allegedly threatened to kill her and her mother if she reported the incident. A POCSO case has been registered at Mahindra Park police station.
Who is the accused in the Jahangirpuri assault case?
The accused is Shakir Ali, the biological father of the 13-year-old victim. He reportedly resides in Badli Village with the victim's grandmother, separately from the mother and children. He is currently absconding.
What action has Delhi Police taken so far?
Police registered a case under the POCSO Act at Mahindra Park police station following a complaint by the victim's mother. Officials have confirmed the accused is absconding and that active efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.
What punishment does the POCSO Act prescribe for this offence?
Under the POCSO Act, sexual assault of a minor by a parent or guardian is treated as an aggravated offence, attracting a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, extendable to life. The case must be tried before a designated Special Court.
Is this an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern in Delhi?
This is not an isolated case. Just months earlier, a Delhi man was arrested for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old stepdaughter over more than a year; the minor was found to be five months pregnant. Both cases involve minor girls abused by a male guardian within the home, pointing to a recurring pattern of intra-familial child abuse in the capital.
