A disturbing incident of alleged mob violence and sexual assault in east Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar has triggered widespread outrage after videos of the attack surfaced on social media. A 52-year-old businessman, his wife, and their 26-year-old son were allegedly assaulted by a group of men over a long-running dispute related to the ownership and control of a gym located in the basement of their residential property. The businessman’s wife has now given a detailed account of the incident, alleging extreme physical violence against her family and sexual assault against herself.

The incident occurred on Friday afternoon in a densely populated residential area. What began as a property-related disagreement escalated into a brutal public assault, leaving the family traumatised and raising serious questions about safety, bystander apathy, and the enforcement of law and order.

Videos show brutal public assault

A series of videos that went viral shortly after the incident captured some of the most shocking moments of the attack. In the footage, several men can be seen dragging the businessman’s son out of the family’s ground-floor flat. The attackers allegedly hurled abuses at him, stripped him naked on the street, and repeatedly kicked him. At one point, one of the men is seen hitting the victim’s face with a shoe while others continue to assault him, even as he appears to plead for mercy.

The visuals, widely circulated across social media platforms, prompted public condemnation and demands for swift police action. Many viewers expressed horror at the brutality of the assault and questioned how such violence could take place in broad daylight while passersby looked on.

Wife alleges assault on entire family

Speaking to Hindustan Times, the businessman’s wife described the incident as deeply humiliating and life-altering. She said the violence was not limited to her son and that her husband was also subjected to extreme abuse.

“My son was assaulted naked. He kept pleading with folded hands. People were watching everything,” she said. “Is this less than a rape? The humiliation and trauma will stay with him forever.”

According to her, when the accused men arrived at their home, they first began assaulting her husband inside the gym premises in the basement. She alleged that he was stripped naked and beaten with an iron rod.

“They attacked my husband mercilessly,” she said. “They stripped him and beat him inside the gym. He was completely helpless.”

Allegations of sexual assault

The woman further alleged that when she tried to intervene and protect her husband, she herself became a target of violence.

“When I tried to save him, they slapped me and kicked me,” she said. “They pulled my hair and pushed me so hard that I fell on the ground. They touched me inappropriately. I felt violated and humiliated.”

She said the assault on her was not only physical but also deeply degrading. “As a woman, what I went through cannot be expressed in words. It was terrifying,” she said, adding that the experience has left her emotionally scarred.

Fearing for the lives of her family members, she ran to the Laxmi Nagar police station to seek help. However, she alleged that while she was away, the attackers dragged her son out of the house and continued assaulting him in public.

Long-standing dispute over basement gym

According to the family, the violent incident was the culmination of a dispute that had been simmering for years. The woman said the family had set up a gym in the basement of their house and, in 2016, hired Satish Yadav, also known as Pintoo, as a caretaker to manage the facility.

Over time, she alleged, Yadav began asserting control over the gym and refused to vacate the premises despite repeated requests. The family claims they served him multiple legal notices, but he continued to occupy the gym and allegedly behaved as if he owned it.

“We hired him as a caretaker and trusted him,” she said. “But slowly, he took over the gym and refused to leave, despite several legal notices.”

On the day of the incident, the ground floor of the house was flooded with water. The family attempted to contact Yadav to unlock the gym so they could address the issue, but he allegedly did not respond.

“As the property belongs to us, we went to remove the lock ourselves,” she said. “That is when Pintoo and the others suddenly arrived and attacked us.”

FIR registered under multiple sections

Following the assault, an FIR was registered by Delhi Police based on the complaint filed by the family. The case has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), reflecting the seriousness of the allegations.

The sections invoked include Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 126 (wrongful restraint), Section 329 (criminal trespass), Section 333 (house-trespass after preparation for causing hurt), Section 74 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 75 (sexual harassment), and Section 351 (criminal intimidation).

The inclusion of sections related to sexual offences underscores the gravity of the woman’s allegations and the nature of the violence described.

Police action and arrests

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania confirmed that Satish Yadav, identified as the main accused, has been arrested in connection with the case. He said that other accused involved in the incident are currently absconding.

“One accused has been arrested. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the remaining accused,” Dhania said, adding that multiple teams have been formed to track them down.

Police officials said they are examining CCTV footage from the area, analysing the viral videos, and recording statements from witnesses and neighbours. Medical examinations of the victims have also been conducted as part of the investigation.

Fear, trauma, and demand for justice

The victim’s family has said they are living in fear following the incident and have demanded strict and swift action against all those involved. The woman said the attack has shattered their sense of security.

“We are law-abiding citizens. We went through legal channels, we served notices, and still this happened to us,” she said. “If this can happen in daylight in a crowded locality, what safety does any family have?”

She also expressed anguish over what she described as the silence of bystanders. “People stood there and watched my son being beaten and stripped. Not one person tried to help or stop them,” she said.

Wider implications

The case has reignited discussions around violent property disputes, the vulnerability of families caught in such conflicts, and the failure of timely intervention. Legal experts have pointed out that stripping a person naked and assaulting them publicly constitutes a serious criminal offence, with long-term psychological consequences for victims.

Women’s rights activists have also emphasised the need for sensitive and swift handling of cases involving allegations of sexual assault, especially when they occur alongside other forms of violence.

As the investigation continues, the incident has become a stark reminder of how unresolved disputes can spiral into extreme brutality. The outcome of the case will be closely watched, both for the delivery of justice to the victims and for the message it sends about accountability and public safety in the capital.