Bride-to-be attacked with acid days before wedding; neighbour arrested

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By Sumesh Rajan | April 17, 2026

Delhi, INDIA: A 21-year-old woman, who was set to get married on April 19, suffered severe burns after her neighbour allegedly threw acid on her during a pre-wedding function at her home in Northeast Delhi’s Gokalpuri area.

Police said the accused, a 26-year-old woman, was allegedly in a relationship with the victim’s fiancé and attacked the bride-to-be out of jealousy over the impending marriage.

The incident took place on Tuesday April 14 afternoon at the victim’s residence in Indira Vihar, where family members and relatives had gathered for wedding rituals. According to the victim’s family, preparations were underway for the haldi and mehendi ceremonies when the accused arrived at the house.

The victim’s younger sister said the accused was known to the family and had frequently visited their home in the past. “She asked my sister to apply mehendi on her hands because she had to attend another wedding,” she said.

According to the family, the accused initially left the house and later returned wearing a burqa and carrying a small backpack. She sat beside the victim and took out two bottles resembling gym shakers. Family members said she mixed glucose powder in one bottle and drank it, making her presence appear normal.

“She told my sister to sit closer to the wall and then took out another bottle from her bag. She said it was lemon water, but suddenly she splashed it on my sister’s face,” the victim’s sister alleged.

The victim immediately screamed in pain and ran to the bathroom to wash her face. Family members said her face was bleeding, her eyes had shut completely and foam-like substance had formed around them.

“All we could see was blood on her face. She kept saying she could not see anything,” the sister said.

The accused allegedly also assaulted the victim with an iron-like object, causing a cut above her eye, before attempting to flee. However, relatives and neighbours managed to overpower her and informed the police.

The victim was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment for burns on her face, eyes, neck and hand. Doctors have kept her under observation as she is reportedly struggling with her vision.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Ashish Mishra said Gokalpuri police received information about the attack on Tuesday afternoon.

“Upon reaching the spot in the Indira Vihar area, police learnt that the victim had already been taken to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital by her family members,” Mishra said.

Police registered a case under Section 124(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid.

Investigators said preliminary findings suggest the attack was premeditated. Police sources said the accused had allegedly been in a relationship with the groom-to-be for nearly five years and was opposed to his marriage.

“Driven by jealousy and anger, the accused allegedly attacked the victim by throwing acid on her,” a police officer said.

Police have arrested the accused and produced her before a local court, which remanded her to judicial custody. Investigators are also trying to trace the source of the acid used in the attack.

Family members of the victim, however, said they had no knowledge of any relationship between the accused and the groom. They described the marriage as an arranged one that had been finalised around three months ago.

The victim, who is pursuing a postgraduate degree in political science from IGNOU, had earlier been teaching children but stopped working as the wedding approached.

Meanwhile, members of the accused’s family claimed she had been suffering from depression for several years.

“She had anger issues and was undergoing treatment. We do not know why she did this,” the accused’s sister said.

At the victim’s home, where wedding preparations had been in full swing, grief and uncertainty have now replaced the celebrations.

“Everything was ready for the wedding. We do not know what will happen now,” the victim’s sister said.