In yet another case of sexual assault on minors, a 77-year-old businessman was arrested for allegedly raping his maid, a minor, in Sabzi Mandi area of North Delhi. The businessman was arrested on Saturday after the victim lodged a complaint at Sabzi Mandi police station. The accused has been booked under Sections 375, 376 of the IPC and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Police said the transport trader, identified as Mahendra Sehgal, was taken into custody on Saturday night for allegedly raping the girl, a native of West Bengal, for the past 10-12 days, police said. The matter came to light on Saturday afternoon when Sehgal, alone at home since his wife was at a relative’s, attempted to force himself on the girl again. Unable to take the repeated attempts to outrage her modesty, the girl mustered courage and informed a neighbour of her plight. The caller told police that a minor girl working as a maid in Sehgal’s house and was in chains.
“Based on the girl’s statement, police arrested him from his house on Saturday night and registered a case under appropriate Sections of IPC against him at Sabzi Mandi police station,” a senior police officer said. “The girl’s aunt had brought her from West Bengal few days back. The aunt was on leave and had asked the victim to stay and work at Sehgal’s house,” the officer said.
Police said that it was only when a police team reached the spot they realised the case was not only about abuse. “The victim was terrified and we tried to counsel her. After talking to her for a while she revealed she had been raped,” added the officer. Sehgal, who was present during the counseling, was arrested. A medical examination of the victim confirmed rape.