In 2024, Delhi emerged as the city with the highest rates of crimes against women and senior citizens among the 19 metropolitan areas in India, according to the recent Crime in India report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Wednesday. Additionally, Delhi recorded the most juvenile offenses and led the nation in theft incidents, with nearly 30% of all reported thefts occurring in the capital.
The overall crime rate in Delhi decreased by approximately 15% in 2024 compared to the previous year and by 8.8% from 2022. Despite this drop, the city maintained its position as the leader in crime among metro areas, with a total of 275,402 registered cases in 2024, while Mumbai lagged significantly with 51,428 cases.
According to the statistics, Delhi reported 13,396 incidents of crimes against women and 1,267 cases involving senior citizens, which collectively made up just over 30% of such crimes reported in metropolitan regions across the country.
Delhi’s juvenile crime rate reached 41.6%, far exceeding the national average of 7.9%. The capital also documented 180,973 theft cases, a substantial portion of the 621,945 theft incidents reported nationwide.
While there was a slight decline in crimes against senior citizens in Delhi—from 1,361 cases in 2023 to 1,267 in 2024—the city still ranked highest among metro areas. The 1,267 cases accounted for more than 30% of the total 4,107 crimes against seniors reported in metropolitan cities. Notably, this indicates a downward trend over the years, with the figures being 1,361 in 2023 and 1,313 in 2022.
A senior police official noted that senior citizens often face vulnerabilities due to isolation and inducement, particularly in affluent neighborhoods where many live alone, making them attractive targets for theft and robbery.
In 2024, Delhi also recorded the highest number of crimes against women, totaling 13,396 cases, which represented over a quarter of all such incidents in metro cities. This number was comparable to 2023, when 13,439 cases were reported.
Among the crimes against women, 1,058 were categorized as rape cases, leading all metro areas, with Jaipur trailing at 497 cases. This figure constituted over a quarter of all rape incidents reported nationwide. However, it is worth noting that 1,044 of these cases lacked sufficient evidence.
The officer pointed out that while Delhi shows a higher incidence of crimes against women compared to other metropolitan areas, this may be attributed to the prompt registration of cases based on initial complaints. There have also been instances of false rape allegations, often made for extortion purposes, which remain in official records pending trial.
Kidnapping and abduction cases in Delhi were also the highest among metro cities, with 5,580 incidents reported in 2024, accounting for nearly 35% of all such cases. Mumbai followed with 1,854 incidents.
Furthermore, Delhi experienced a notable increase in juvenile crimes, with 2,306 cases registered, reflecting a rate of 41.6% in 2024. This represents an uptick from 2,278 cases in 2023. Only Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra reported higher juvenile crime figures, although both states have significantly larger populations than Delhi.
Meanwhile, the murder rate in Delhi saw a slight decline, with 504 cases reported in 2024 compared to 506 in 2023 and 509 in 2022.
In the realm of cybercrime, Delhi reported 404 cases, a minor decrease from 407 in 2023 and significantly lower than the 685 cases reported in 2022. The cybercrime rate in the capital stood at 1.8%, well below the national average of 7.3%. A police officer mentioned that recent arrests of banking officials involved in facilitating fraudulent accounts have helped curb cybercrime to some extent.
Nirbhay Thakur serves as a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, focusing primarily on district courts in Delhi. Since 2023, he has extensively covered high-profile trials.
In terms of education, Nirbhay holds a degree in economics from Delhi University and has a diverse reporting background that includes trial courts, interviews with ambassadors, and a strong interest in data-driven stories. He is particularly recognized for his thorough follow-ups on long-standing legal cases and significant criminal trials.
Recently, he has authored various in-depth articles and investigations in 2025, alongside breaking numerous court-related news stories.
