Flight attendant 'digitally raped' at Gurgaon hospital: What does it mean?

NEW DELHI: A technician allegedly employed at Medanta Hospital was arrested on Friday for sexually assaulting a flight attendant who was on a ventilator in the hospital’s ICU, police said.

According to PTI, the accused is alleged to have committed 'digital rape' in the ICU room while two nurses were present but did not intervene.

What is digital rape?

Digital rape refers to non-consensual penetration of a person’s private parts using fingers or toes.

The term 'digital' pertains to the digits of the hands or feet. It is recognised as a serious form of sexual assault.

Unlike assaults involving external contact, digital rape involves internal, non-consensual penetration using fingers or toes, making it a deeply invasive and serious form of sexual violence.

Such assaults can occur in a range of environments, including hospitals, homes, public spaces, or during custody.

Survivors often suffer not only physical harm but also significant emotional and psychological trauma. The impact can be even more severe when the victim is unconscious, physically restrained, or in a vulnerable condition—such as under sedation or intensive medical care.

Though frequently underreported, digital rape is increasingly being acknowledged globally by medical experts and rights groups as a severe breach of bodily integrity and personal dignity.

Another case of digital rape

According to a TOI article, a Delhi court sentenced a man to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for committing aggravated sexual assault on a two-year-old girl in 2021, making it clear that no leniency can be shown merely because the case involved digital penetration and not penile-vaginal assault.

The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Babita Puniya (POCSO), who rejected the defence counsel’s argument that the nature of penetration warranted a lighter sentence.

"I do not agree. The legislature has not made any distinction between digital penetration and penile penetration. Penetration, as per rape law, can be penile/vaginal, penile/oral, penile/anal, object or finger/vaginal, and object or finger/anal penetration. Thus, in my considered view, this is not a mitigating factor in his favour," the court said in its judgment.

The court also refused to consider other submissions made by the defence—including the convict’s young age, first-time offender status, illiteracy, or intoxication at the time of offence—as grounds for reducing the punishment.

The man was convicted on January 17, 2025, under Section 6 of the POCSO Act (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) along with IPC Sections 342 (wrongful confinement) and 376-AB (rape of a woman under 12 years of age).


'Over 50 employees questioned'

Police have identified the accused as 25-year-old Deepak, a native of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, who had been living in Gurugram.

A senior officer said Deepak had joined Medanta Hospital five months ago after earning a bachelor’s degree in Operation Theatre Technology from a private university in the area.

Investigators zeroed in on the accused after reviewing CCTV footage and questioning hospital staff.

"Over 50 employees of the hospital and some doctors were questioned, and footage from 800 CCTV cameras was examined. After multiple analyses, we finally identified the accused and arrested him today. He has confessed to the crime," said Dr Arpit Jain, DCP (headquarters), who led the special investigation team.

The 46-year-old flight attendant filed a complaint on April 14, prompting the investigation. Police said the accused will be produced before court on Saturday, and the probe is ongoing.