Crimes against women and minor girls in Mumbai have shown a mixed pattern in 2026, with some serious offences recording an increase while others declined, according to Mumbai Police data available up to July 31.
The latest crime figures show a rise in rape cases, rape cases involving minor girls and murders of married women. At the same time, incidents of kidnapping and cases related to outraging the modesty of women have registered a decline.
Mumbai reported 741 rape cases between January and July 31, 2026, according to police statistics. Of these, 709 cases have been detected.
During the same period last year, the city had recorded 710 rape cases. This represents an increase of 31 cases compared with 2025.
One of the notable increases has been seen in cases involving women aged above 18 and registered under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The provision covers sexual relations obtained through deceitful means, including cases involving false promises of marriage.
Police data shows that 212 such cases were registered up to July this year, compared with 139 during the corresponding period last year. This marks a rise of 73 cases.
Apart from these, 129 rape cases falling under other categories were reported during the period.
Sexual offences against children continue to be a significant concern for Mumbai.
As many as 400 rape cases involving minor girls were registered in the city up to July 31 this year. The figure stood at 364 during the corresponding period in 2025, indicating an increase of 36 cases.
The rise has renewed concerns over child safety and the need for stronger measures to prevent sexual abuse. Child-safety advocates and officials have emphasised the importance of awareness programmes, early intervention and effective mechanisms to protect children from sexual exploitation.
While rape-related offences have increased, Mumbai has witnessed a decline in cases involving the kidnapping of women and minor girls.
Police registered 780 kidnapping cases up to July 31, compared with 822 cases during the same period last year. This amounts to a decrease of 42 cases.
The decline provides a contrasting trend in the city's overall crime figures involving women and girls.
Cases registered under outraging the modesty of women also declined during the period under review.
Mumbai Police recorded 1,312 such cases up to July 31 this year, down from 1,492 cases during the corresponding period last year. This represents a reduction of 180 cases.
However, another category showed an increase. Cases involving intentional insult to the modesty of women climbed to 624 this year from 516 last year, an increase of 108 cases.
The data also points to a marginal increase in the number of married women murdered in Mumbai.
Nine married women were murdered up to July 31 this year, compared with eight during the same period last year.
Although the increase is limited to one case, the figures continue to highlight concerns surrounding violence against women within domestic and family settings.
Cases involving alleged physical and mental cruelty linked to dowry also witnessed a slight decline.
Mumbai Police registered 298 cases of physical and mental cruelty related to dowry up to July 31 this year, compared with 305 cases during the corresponding period last year.
Cases involving cruelty against married women for reasons other than dowry also fell. The number declined to 273 cases this year from 303 cases during the same period last year.
The police data further shows a decline in suicides among married women linked to alleged harassment.
Three married women allegedly died by suicide following dowry-related harassment up to July 31 this year, compared with five during the corresponding period last year.
In cases attributed to reasons other than dowry, six married women died by suicide this year, compared with 12 during the same period last year.
The latest figures present a mixed picture of crimes against women and minor girls in Mumbai. While rape cases, including offences involving minors, have increased, kidnapping and cases of outraging the modesty of women have declined.
The rise in sexual offences against minor girls remains particularly concerning and underlines the importance of stronger child-protection systems, public awareness, preventive policing and timely reporting and intervention.
Share
Tweet
