Key Highlights:
- NDTV senior producer chased for 20 kilometers from Noida to Delhi by two intoxicated men during midnight hours on October 31, 2025
- Attackers smashed car’s rear windscreen with wooden stick, attempted forced entry while journalist recorded incident for evidence
- Delhi Police arrested both suspects within hours – Deepak Lal and Shubham, both bartenders with prior criminal records
Opening Overview
A midnight drive home transformed into a terrifying ordeal when an NDTV journalist chased by two men on a scooter faced violent harassment while traveling from her Sector-129 Noida office to Vasant Kunj, Delhi on October 31, 2025. The NDTV journalist chased incident began at 12:45 AM when the senior producer, driving her Ford Figo on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, noticed two men following her after she overtook their scooter near Mahamaya Flyover. This NDTV journalist chased case demonstrates both the vulnerability of media professionals working irregular hours and the critical importance of quick thinking during emergency situations, as the victim successfully recorded her attackers while maintaining communication with colleagues throughout the 20-kilometer pursuit.​
The incident escalated dramatically when one attacker jumped off the scooter to bang on her windscreen and attempt forced entry, later using a wooden stick to shatter the car’s rear window near DND Flyway. The NDTV journalist chased case concluded with swift police action, resulting in the arrest of both perpetrators – Deepak Lal and Shubham, both bartenders from Dabri with existing criminal records – within hours of the incident being reported.​
The Midnight Pursuit: Twenty Kilometers of Terror
The NDTV journalist chased incident unfolded in multiple phases as the attackers escalated their harassment from simple following to violent property damage across Delhi’s major expressways.​
- Initial pursuit began after the journalist overtook the suspects’ scooter on Mahamaya Flyover around 12:45 AM
- Attackers repeatedly gestured for her to stop while attempting to block her vehicle’s path on the expressway
- When traffic forced her to slow down, pillion rider Shubham dismounted and physically attacked her car’s windscreen
“They tried to stop me. Initially, I ignored them, but I later noticed that they were trying to block my car. The men gestured to me to stop, but I continued to drive. I took out my phone and started recording them in an attempt to ward them off,” the journalist stated in her complaint. The NDTV journalist chased scenario intensified when Shubham attempted to force open her locked car door, demonstrating the calculated nature of the attack.​
As the pursuit continued toward DND Flyway, the journalist maintained contact with colleagues who advised her not to stop under any circumstances. The NDTV journalist chased case reached its most dangerous point when Shubham retrieved a wooden stick and deliberately smashed the car’s rear windscreen and left rear window while the vehicle was moving. Despite the terrifying circumstances, the journalist’s presence of mind in recording the incident and seeking guidance from colleagues likely prevented a more serious outcome.​
Swift Police Response and Criminal Background
Delhi Police’s handling of the NDTV journalist chased case exemplified efficient inter-jurisdictional coordination, with both suspects arrested within hours through systematic CCTV analysis and targeted searches.​
- Police Control Room received distress call at 1:30 AM when journalist reached safety near Lajpat Nagar
- Multiple investigative teams formed immediately to track suspects using expressway CCTV footage
- Both perpetrators arrested from their Dabri residences by Friday morning through coordinated police action
The arrested individuals, Deepak Lal (alias Deepu) and Shubham, both work as bartenders and were allegedly intoxicated during the NDTV journalist chased incident. Police records reveal both men have previous criminal histories, including cases registered under the Arms Act at Dabri Police Station earlier in 2025. During interrogation, the suspects claimed they were pursuing the journalist because she allegedly hit their scooter, though police are verifying this version as part of the ongoing investigation.​
The NDTV journalist chased case has been registered under sections related to stalking, criminal intimidation, and other relevant provisions, with investigators examining whether the duo was involved in similar incidents targeting other women. Police are conducting thorough questioning to establish the complete sequence of events and determine if this was opportunistic road rage or part of a larger pattern of criminal behavior.​
Taxi Drivers’ Heroic Intervention
The NDTV journalist chased incident found resolution through the timely intervention of taxi drivers who recognized the victim’s distress and provided immediate assistance near Ashram area around 1:30 AM.​
- Group of taxi drivers at Gupta Market in Lajpat Nagar immediately noticed the journalist’s distressed condition
- Drivers instructed her to park safely and helped create a protective environment until police arrived
- Their quick response ensured the attackers fled the scene without causing further harm
“I asked them (cab drivers) to help me, and they told me to park my car to the side. I stopped my car at the Gupta market in Lajpat Nagar, and the two men on the scooty were gone,” the journalist recounted. This NDTV journalist chased case highlights the crucial role of bystander intervention in urban safety scenarios, particularly during late-night hours when formal security presence may be limited.​
The taxi drivers’ immediate recognition of the situation and willingness to intervene demonstrates the importance of community vigilance in ensuring women’s safety during vulnerable hours. Their actions in the NDTV journalist chased incident created a safe space for the victim to contact police and provide detailed information about her attackers, ultimately contributing to the swift arrests that followed.
Media Safety and Broader Implications
The NDTV journalist chased incident occurs within a concerning context of increasing threats to media professionals across India, with recent official investigations revealing systematic challenges to journalist safety nationwide.​
- National Human Rights Commission took cognizance of multiple journalist attacks in Kerala, Manipur, and Tripura during August-September 2025
- India ranks 151st out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, showing marginal improvement from 159th position in 2024
- Research indicates 58% of journalists in smaller towns face arrests compared to 24% in metropolitan areas
While the NDTV journalist chased case represents opportunistic criminal behavior rather than targeted professional harassment, it underscores the additional vulnerabilities faced by media personnel working irregular schedules. Recent NHRC investigations revealed journalists in multiple states faced violent attacks requiring hospitalization and police intervention, indicating a broader pattern of threats to press freedom.​
The NDTV journalist chased incident highlights how women journalists face compound risks due to both their professional responsibilities and gender-based vulnerabilities, particularly when working late-night shifts or covering breaking news events. International press freedom organizations have documented rising concerns about journalist safety in India, with local reporters facing particular exposure to violence and intimidation tactics.​
Final Assessment
The NDTV journalist chased incident represents both a successful emergency response and a troubling reminder of safety challenges facing media professionals in India’s metropolitan areas. The journalist’s quick thinking in recording her attackers, maintaining colleague communication, and seeking help from taxi drivers prevented a potentially more serious outcome, while Delhi Police‘s rapid investigation and arrest of both suspects within hours demonstrates improved law enforcement capabilities. This NDTV journalist chased case underscores the importance of robust workplace safety protocols for media organizations and the need for enhanced security measures for journalists working irregular hours across major Indian cities.​
The swift resolution through coordinated police action and community intervention provides a positive example of how emergency response systems can protect vulnerable individuals, though the incident highlights ongoing concerns about women’s safety during late-night travel in the National Capital Region. As this NDTV journalist chased case demonstrates, while random criminal acts cannot always be prevented, effective response coordination between victims, law enforcement, and community members can ensure justice and potentially deter similar incidents targeting media professionals in the future.
