Telangana is facing a deeply concerning trend, as crimes against women in the state jumped by 7.31% in 2023, with a total of 23,678 cases reported compared to 22,066 in the previous year. This alarming data, released in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on September 20, 2025, positions Telangana as the leading state in South India for such offenses. The state alone accounts for 5.28% of the staggering 4.48 lakh cases registered nationwide.
A closer look at the figures reveals that domestic abuse, specifically cruelty inflicted by husbands or their relatives, constitutes the overwhelming majority, making up 55.5% of all reported crimes with 10,518 cases. This tragic statistic alone represents 7.87% of the 1.33 lakh similar incidents recorded across India. Beyond domestic violence, other prevalent crimes include 5,024 cases of assault aimed at outraging a woman’s modesty, 2,152 kidnappings and abductions, 817 rapes, and 145 dowry-related deaths. Furthermore, the digital realm is not safe, with 1,884 cases of stalking and 165 incidents of voyeurism also being reported.
Nationally, Uttar Pradesh registered the highest number of crimes against women with 56,083 cases, followed closely by Rajasthan with 40,738 cases and Maharashtra with 39,526 cases, highlighting a widespread issue across the country.
Focusing on metropolitan areas, Hyderabad reported a staggering 3,822 cases, making up 7.43% of the total 51,393 incidents recorded across 19 major cities. Within Hyderabad, the breakdown of these cases paints a grim picture: 1,743 instances of cruelty by husbands or relatives, 751 assaults, 273 kidnappings and abductions, 173 rapes, and 15 dowry deaths. The city also reported 416 cases of stalking and 47 voyeurism incidents, underscoring the diverse forms of violence women endure.
Among all metropolitan cities, Delhi recorded the highest number of crimes against women with 13,366 cases. Mumbai followed with 6,025 cases, then Bengaluru with 4,870, and Jaipur with 3,872, placing Hyderabad in a comparable position in this disheartening ranking. Lucknow was not far behind, reporting 2,902 cases.
Significantly, the report highlights a disturbing shift in crime patterns, with a growing number of offenses against women moving into the digital realm. Telangana alone registered 120 cases under the Information Technology Act. Out of these, 78 cases were specifically related to the circulation of sexually explicit content (under Sections 67A and 67B), while the remaining 42 cases involved other forms of online abuse such as blackmailing, image morphing, defamation, or the creation of fake profiles.
Within this digital landscape, Hyderabad stands out with 53 cybercrime cases against women, ranking second among the 19 metropolitan cities. Only Bengaluru reported more, with 127 cases. In Hyderabad, 47 of these incidents involved sexually explicit content, and six were related to other types of online harassment. Following Hyderabad, Lucknow reported 41 cases and Delhi recorded 36, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced digital safety measures and awareness.