An American tourist was allegedly groped by a teenage boy at a Delhi Metro station in an incident that has sparked outrage online. The woman, who is blonde, said the boy’s mother and sister defended his actions, claiming he was “curious about blondes.”
The incident was shared by Gaurav Sabnis, an Indian-origin professor at Stevens Institute of Technology in the US. Sabnis had warned the woman, a former student, about the risk of harassment before her trip to India for a wedding.
“When she called me for travel tips, I told her to be on guard, especially in Delhi. Sadly, it came true,” Sabnis posted on X, along with a screenshot of her message.
According to the woman’s account, she agreed to take a photo with the boy because he was with his mother and sister. “He put an arm on my shoulder—weird, but okay. Then he grabbed my breasts hard and spanked my butt, giggling like it was a joke,” she wrote.
When she pushed him away in anger, his family scolded her for “overreacting.” The mother allegedly said, “He had never met a blond lady up close, so he got carried away.”
The woman added, “What kind of parenting is that? I loved your country, but I don’t think I’ll ever return. In fact, I’m going to give all of South Asia a pass.”
Social media users condemned the family’s response. One wrote, “Some women are the biggest enablers of their ‘raja betas.’” Another said, “This is a cognizable offence, and the defense came from those who should have punished him.”
Many urged the victim to file a police complaint, while others apologized on behalf of Indians. The incident has renewed discussions about women’s safety and accountability in public spaces in India.
