Ragpicker woman sexually harassed while sleeping on footpath in Delhi; accused arrested

NEW DELHI: A ragpicker woman sleeping on a footpath in Delhi’s Palam area was allegedly sexually harassed by a passerby, police said.

The incident occurred on May 24, 2026.

The accused, a resident of the Palam area who works at a tent house.

According to officials, a PCR call was received on May 24 reporting that a man had been touching a woman inappropriately on the footpath.

Police reached the spot and found a ragpicker woman present. However, the woman told police that nothing had happened and that she did not wish to take any action.

A search was launched for the accused based on the PCR call, and he was later traced and arrested.

A case under Sections 74, 75 and 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)