Mumbai Records 17% Dip in Women-Related Crimes in January 2026

Mumbai recorded a 17% drop in reported crimes against women in January 2026 compared to the same month last year, offering some relief despite ongoing concerns about the nature of offences and detection rates.

According to the latest data, 515 cases were registered in January 2026, down from 621 cases in January 2025 — a decrease of 106 cases. However, the detection rate for the month stood at 79%, with 405 cases solved, marking a decline from the higher rate recorded during the same period last year.

A closer look at the January figures shows that offences related to outraging the modesty of women continued to be the most common, accounting for 174 cases. This was followed by 111 cases of kidnapping and 80 cases of rape. Other reported crimes included 75 cases of intentional insult to modesty and 32 cases linked to dowry harassment. The distribution suggests that while overall numbers have decreased, the types of crimes being reported remain largely consistent.

To better understand the current trend, it is important to consider the situation in 2025, when the city saw a noticeable rise in crimes against women. A total of 7,143 cases were registered that year, an increase of 816 cases compared to 6,327 in 2024. Despite the surge, authorities reported a high detection rate of 96%, with 6,861 cases solved.

The 2025 data also reflected a recurring pattern in the nature of offences. Cases of outraging modesty were the highest at 2,467, followed by 1,428 kidnapping cases and 1,257 rape cases. Additionally, there were 927 cases of intentional insult to modesty and 529 cases related to dowry harassment.

While the recent decline in overall cases is a positive sign, the persistence of similar categories of offences and fluctuations in detection rates indicate that challenges in ensuring women’s safety in the city remain.

Meanwhile, recently it was revealed in the Rajya Sabha that cybercrimes related to women that have been reported on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) have crossed 9.54 lakh over five years, with 2025 recording the highest annual tally in both major categories.