Former Minister in the Hemant Soren Government Mannan Mallick's grandson Samsher Mallick was arrested by Ranchi police on Sunday in the sexual assault case registered at Doranda police station. The 13-year-old girl has alleged in her statement that the 70-year old Mallick, often used to come to her room in the night, touch her indecently, while she was fast asleep. "One person has been arrested in the sexual assault case by Doranda Police after the victim identified the person by looking at the photograph shown by the police," said SP City Jaya Roy. "I also went to meet the victim at 'Premanshray' where the girl reiterated what she has stated in her statements recorded before the juvenile court and the police officials," she added.
According to the statement recorded with the member of Child Welfare Committee on Saturday, the girl had alleged that she came in contact with Mallick through some common family friends and started working for him as a maid. She used to wash utensils, mop the floors and also give body massage to Mallick and his wife. Guests and drivers often used to tease her. The girl escaped Mallick's house in Ranchi a fortnight ago and took shelter at the house of one of the acquaintances in the locality. She, along with the woman, went to the NGO 'Diya Seva Sansthan, which works for child rights on Friday, later taken to the CWC the next day. The FIR was lodged by police on the directions of Juvenile Court.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of State Women's Commission Mahua Maji also visited the girl at Premashrya to take stock of the situation. Maji, who also recorded the statement of the girl, however, said that although she did not specifically mention sexual assault by Mallick, the girl definitely pointed out such instances by other relatives in the house. "The Commission after discussing the matter along with the other members will take action in this regard," said Maji.
The former Minister, however, sensing something fishy in the whole episode, rejected the allegations made by the girl. According to Mallick, the girl had escaped from his house following which his daughter-in-law lodged a report with Doranda police station. The girl originally hailing from Dhanbad, was later brought to Mallick's Ranchi house located in Doranda locality. According to her, she ran away because of repeated assaults and was scared to return to the Mallick household.