1. Background and recent court case

1.1 A Delhi court acquitted the three main accused in a 2009 acid attack case on December 24, 2025
1.2 The attack had left survivor Shaheen Malik with permanent injuries
1.3 She was a 26-year-old MBA student and counsellor when attacked outside her workplace
1.4 She lost vision in one eye, and 25 reconstructive surgeries could not restore her eyesight
1.5 The acquittal has renewed national attention on justice delivery in acid attack cases

2. Scale of acid attack cases in India

2.1 In 2023, 703 acid attack cases were recorded across India
2.2 Courts recorded only 16 convictions and 27 acquittals in the same year
2.3 A large number of cases remain pending, highlighting a wide gap between reporting and case disposal

3. Nature of acid attacks

3.1 An acid attack involves throwing or administering a corrosive substance to cause harm
3.2 Common substances used include sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid
3.3 These substances can melt skin and flesh, causing severe burns, scarring, blindness, maiming, or permanent vegetative state
3.4 Survivors face long-term psychological trauma and socio-economic harm

4. Profile of victims and motives

4.1 Most victims are women and young girls, while perpetrators are almost always men
4.2 2024 analysis of 55 survivors showed attacks largely linked to relationship-related issues
4.3 Motives include revenge for rejected advances, dowry disputes, suspected infidelity, and domestic abuse

5. Extent of under-reporting

5.1 NCRB data recorded 176 attempts in 2021 and 202 attempts in 2022
5.2 Acid attacks remain severely under-reported due to stigma, family pressure, and fear of retaliation
5.3 Estimates suggest around 1,000 acid attacks annually in India

6. Regional concentration of cases

6.1 2023 data shows West Bengal (57 cases) recorded the highest number
6.2 Uttar Pradesh (31 cases) and Gujarat (15 cases) followed
6.3 These three States accounted for the largest share of cases nationwide

7. Legal framework and enforcement gaps

7.1 Section 124 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita prescribes minimum 10 years’ imprisonment, extendable to life imprisonment, with fine for victim medical expenses
7.2 Acid attack attempts are punishable with 5–7 years’ imprisonment
7.3 Law mandates free treatment for victims in public and private hospitals
7.4 In 2013, the Supreme Court directed regulation of acid sale and registration of buyers and sellers
7.5 Implementation of acid sale regulation has remained weak
7.6 In 2023, police investigated 113 cases, including 53 pending cases
7.7 86 cases were chargesheeted during the year
7.8 649 cases remained pending trial from previous years
7.9 Only 16 convictions were recorded, while 27 cases ended in acquittal

8. Survivor experiences and measures needed

8.1 Survivors report poor investigations, ignored evidence, and judicial insensitivity
8.2 Demands include a complete ban on acid sale and strict enforcement of existing rules
8.3 Survivors seek accountability of sub-divisional magistrates for monitoring acid sales
8.4 Bangladesh achieved a 90% decline in acid attacks through strict regulation and awareness
8.5 Attacks in Bangladesh fell from 494 (2002) to 13 (2024)
8.6 Suggested measures include fast-track courts, medical, legal, psychological and livelihood support, implementation of Justice J.S. Verma Committee recommendations, and creation of a national survivor rehabilitation fund