Gurugram rape case: Supreme Court criticises Haryana Police’s insensitive handling of four-year-old child’s rape case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) reprimanded the Haryana Police and its child welfare committee for their insensitive handling of a four-year-old’s rape case.

The Court was hearing the parents’ petition, in which they alleged inaction by the Gurugram police. The Court, on March 23, 2026, issued notices to the Haryana Government, its DGP and others on a plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the rape of a four-year-old girl in Gurugram.

“It is shameful that the Haryana Police summoned a three-year-old rape survivor to the station instead of visiting her,” the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday (March 25), and constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising women IPS officers from the Haryana cadre to probe the rape case.

The Court also directed the Haryana government to expeditiously notify the SIT. It also instructed the Gurugram Police to hand over the case records by March 26, 2026.

The Supreme Court issued show-cause notices to Gurugram Police officials for their shoddy probe into the case, asking why action should not be taken against them.

The Court also issued show cause notices to the members of the Gurugram Child Welfare Committee, asking why they should not be removed.

It also directed the Gurugram District Judge to assign the rape case to a senior female judicial officer presiding over the POCSO court.

After noting the glaring insensitivity, sheer recklessness and irresponsible conduct of the aforesaid authorities, the Court ordered that all officers of the Gurugram police, including the Police Commissioner, be disassociated with the investigation and ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with three senior-IPS rank-women officers to take over the probe.

“If the State has any respect for the law, the police officers must be transferred immediately. The moment we take cognisance, you start arresting people. Have they even read any bare act? This is the height of insensitivity this case has shown. The incident took place on 2 Feb, and on Feb 5, CWC had a phone conversation with the parent of the victim. If they had any respect for the victim, they should’ve gone to the house of the victim, not called them to the office. The one who went to the child’s house is booked on corruption charges now. This is the quality of officers they are posting. Complete recklessness,” the Court observed during the hearing.

On March 20, the Court had agreed to hear a plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the rape of the 3-year-old girl in Gurugram. The Court had taken note of an urgent mention by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and posted the matter for hearing on March 23, 2026.

The senior advocate told the court that police have done nothing despite the girl giving a statement to the magistrate detailing the horrific incident.

“There is no arrest made. The site has not been secured. No CCTV [footage] taken. Household maids are involved,” Mr. Rohatgi had submitted.

The CJI initially asked the petitioners to move the High Court. However, the senior lawyer said the High Court concerned will be in Chandigarh, while the victim’s father is employed in Gurugram, arguing that a “message should go from the highest court of the country” in this “horrific case”.