Man accused of harassment by DU student in 2015 acquitted

Speaking to The Indian Express, Singh said: “I was branded a harasser; everyone knew my face. My father had a heart attack after I was arrested but he survived. These five years have been difficult... When the judge pronounced the verdict, I cried.”

Sarvjeet Singh, Sarvjeet Singh DU harassment case, man accused of harassing DU student acquitted, delhi city news

Sarvjeet Singh was accused of making indecent gestures and obscene remarks

FOUR years after he was accused of making obscene comments and gestures by a Delhi University student, a 30-year-old man has been acquitted by a Delhi court.In August 2015, Sarvjeet Singh was arrested by the Delhi Police after the woman’s Facebook post — accusing him of making indecent gestures and obscene comments at a traffic junction in Tilak Nagar — accompanied by his photo went viral on social media. He was accused of being a “creep” who issued threats to the woman in front of a crowd when she tried to call police.

Acquitting Singh under IPC sections 354-(A), 506 and 509, Metropolitan Magistrate Sonam Gupta observed, “Indisputably, a conviction on the sole testimony of the prosecutrix can be sustained. However, in the present case, the complainant has made material improvements in her statements. In view of the same, the testimony of the complainant is not trustworthy…”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Singh said: “I was branded a harasser; everyone knew my face. My father had a heart attack after I was arrested but he survived. These five years have been difficult… When the judge pronounced the verdict, I cried.”

Post the incident, Singh said he was fired from his post as a supervisor at a private firm, and subjected to taunts when he was rehired. He had to change jobs often, and was fired once for taking several leaves to attend court.

The prosecution had relied on the complainant’s statement, and the witnesses were cops. The Delhi Police counsel had argued that all the witnesses have supported the case and, therefore, Singh must be convicted.

Singh’s counsel Amish Aggarwal pointed out that the incident took place in the middle of the road, but no one from the spot was cited as a witness. Instead of talking to the police, the present case was filed by the complainant to gain publicity on social media, said the counsel. The court agreed with Aggarwal’s argument and said, “No public witnesses were examined in the present case and non-examination of eyewitnesses, who could have supported the case of the prosecution, casts a serious doubt on the case of the prosecution… when the version of the complainant is itself doubtful.”

Singh said he is considering legal action against the woman.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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