New Delhi:

Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, was allegedly accosted on the road and dragged by a drunk driver for 15 metres in the early hours of Thursday. A 47-year-old man has been arrested.

Ms Maliwal was allegedly harassed and dragged near the AIIMS hospital in Delhi when she was out on the streets of the capital “for a reality check”.

कल देर रात मैं दिल्ली में महिला सुरक्षा के हालात Inspect कर रही थी। एक गाड़ी वाले ने नशे की हालत में मुझसे छेड़छाड़ की और जब मैंने उसे पकड़ा तो गाड़ी के शीशे में मेरा हाथ बंद कर मुझे घसीटा। भगवान ने जान बचाई। यदि दिल्ली में महिला आयोग की अध्यक्ष सुरक्षित नहीं, तो हाल सोच लीजिए।

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) January 19, 2023

She told the police that at around 3.11 am, Harish Chandra drove up to her in a Baleno car and pressed her to get in. He was heavily drunk, she alleged.

Ms Maliwal said when she refused, the man drove off but then took a U-turn and returned taking the narrow parallel lane.

When he tried to force her to join him in the car, she reached into the window to catch him but he allegedly put up the window, trapping her hand.

Ms Maliwal’s team was waiting at a distance.

He kept driving, dragging Ms Maliwal along for about 15 metre before she freed herself. The man was arrested and his car has been seized.