Judge Rebukes Defense for Linking Jeans to Crime in Delhi Harassment Trial

During the August 10 hearing, the Delhi High Court sharply criticized the defence’s strategy of associating the complainant’s jeans with the alleged offence. Justice Chandrasekharan Sudha described the approach as a “misguided attempt to tarnish the victim’s reputation” and highlighted that clothing choices hold no legal weight in determining guilt.

The victim testified that she usually wears "normal jeans and a top" and that a few locals had objected to her style. The defence tried to use this objection as evidence of provocativeness, a line the judge dismissed as irrelevant to the criminal conduct of stalking and indecent touching.

The court found the victim’s testimony consistent and credible, and affirmed that Sajid Ali’s actions—repeatedly following the woman, making lewd remarks and touching her without consent—constituted sexual harassment under the law.

Justice Sudha ordered that the accused appear before the court on the upcoming Wednesday for sentencing, reinforcing that personal attire cannot be weaponised to excuse criminal behaviour.