Shillong, August 22: Swati Maliwal, the head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), asserted on Tuesday that she was prevented from meeting a minor victim who had suffered sexual assault by a currently suspended city government official. Maliwal disclosed spending the night outside the hospital where the girl was admitted.
As per IANS, through a Hindi tweet, she shared her ordeal, questioning the reasons for her obstruction: “Since 12 noon yesterday (Monday), I am sitting outside the hospital to meet the victim girl or her family. Slept outside the hospital at night. NCPCR can be introduced to the girl’s mother, so why have I been asked to stop? What are you trying to hide?”
Earlier on Monday, the Delhi Police apprehended the accused official and his wife after extensive interrogation at their residence in the national capital. The accused, identified as Premoday Khakha, a 51-year-old deputy director in the Woman and Child Development Department of the Delhi government, stands accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting the high school student from 2020 to 2021.
The victim, who had encountered the accused at a church, experienced severe distress after her father’s demise in 2020. Taking advantage of their pre-existing connection, Khakha lured her to his home under the pretext of providing assistance. During the period from October 2020 to February 2021, when she was living with her “guardian” in Burari, the girl reported enduring multiple instances of rape.
Consequently, an FIR encompassing rape charges along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act was lodged against the accused and his wife. The situation has drawn significant attention due to Maliwal’s claims of hindrance in meeting the victim, raising concerns about transparency and justice.
