Mumbai Ranks Second In Crime Against Women, Reveals NCRB Data

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released a report on December 4, stating that there is a significant rise in crime against women in Mumbai. From 4,583 incidents in 2020 to 5,543 in 2021 and 6,176 in 2022, there was an overall rise in crimes against women.

According to this metric, the city came in second position and Delhi came first. In Mumbai, 1,859 cases under IPC section 354 (molestation) and 2,002 cases were registered in Delhi.

On average, in Maharashtra, five crimes against women and two crimes against children were committed every hour in 2022 as per the data presented by NCRB. The state witnessed a 15% spike in crime against women. In 2021, 39,526 crimes were reported; in 2022, the number rose to 49,331.

According to figures released by NCRB, violent crimes - which include rapes, molestations, murders, and serious assaults - have increased over the previous year. Mumbai led all other metropolises in 2022 in a lot of these subjects, with many others coming in close second.

According to data released by NCRB, there has been an increase in violent crimes, which include rapes, molestations, murders, and serious assaults. Mumbai was the metropolis with the most cases registered in several of these categories in 2022, with many other metros coming in close second.

In some cases, Mumbai saw numbers higher than Delhi. A total of 667 cases of “outraging the modesty of women” under section 509 of IPC were registered in Mumbai in 2022, as against 387 in Delhi. The number of cases of human trafficking with women as victims was also the highest in Mumbai at 37.

Overall, crimes statewide against children increased 20% from 17,261 cases in 2021 to 20,762 cases in 2022. Most were linked to molestation, kidnapping and POCSO Act offences.

In Mumbai, a low conviction rate and high pendency rates in courts were a common thread even as registration of cases continues to increase year-on-year. Conviction rate for crimes against women was 20% and for children 24%. Pendency rate was as high as 95% for both.

The POCSO Act provides for cases to be disposed of in a year from the time of cognisance of the offense to ensure speedy justice and prevent a negative impact on the victim’s health. There are instances where young females who are minor age-wise are involved in relationships, however since 18 is the legal age of consent, this is considered rape and is reported as a crime.

Juvenile criminality also decreased slightly in 2022, from 4,406 offenses in 2022 to 4,554 in 2021. After UP and Bihar, Maharashtra has the third-highest youth crime rate.