The Hindu : Lady cop in police net

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 26, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Lady cop in police net

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 25. The Delhi Police Commissioner, K. K. Paul, today ordered an inquiry into alleged torture of a 12-year-old domestic help by a woman head constable of the Delhi police. The accused was booked by the New Delhi police under the Juvenile Justice Act this morning.

According to the police, 43-year-old Rekha Kaul, a resident of Police Colony Tilak Marg and posted with the Communication Department of Delhi Police, was arrested from the residence of her brother, Rajesh Sharma, at Yog Maya Mandir in Mehrauli here around 6 a.m. She was later produced in a Patiala House court here and released on bail. She has been booked under Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act which attract a maximum of six-month imprisonment and fine. As per the police complaint, the young girl employed at her residence as domestic help used to be deprived of food for long hours as punishment. At the time of her medical examination, the girl was found with at least 22 burn marks and other injuries on her body. It was also alleged that she was forced to establish a physical relationship with an acquaintance of Rekha's.

The First Information Report said: "She was forced to have physical relations, and when she refused, her employer locked her up in a room." Rekha allegedly used to force the girl to commit the act at the behest of a medical college doctor who used to visit her frequently.

However, the police chose to downplay the incident and justified the registration of the case under the Juvenile Justice Act despite serious allegations. "The allegation of the girl being forced into establishing a physical relationship has not been substantiated," said a police officer.

The girl's plight came to light only after she managed to escape from her employer's home and came into contact with a neighbour who informed a child helpline on February 19. A case was lodged at the Tilak Marg police station. Following registration of the case, Rekha went absconding and was finally arrested today.

The sequence of events leading to her arrest remains a mystery. Police sources said a highly ranked Delhi Police officer apparently tried to stall her arrest.

Rekha was said to be doing the rounds of Police Headquarters following the registration of the case.

The Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range), Maxwell Pereira, said this evening that he was going through the report prepared by the district police in connection with the case and the allegations. The report would be forwarded to the Police Commissioner.

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