A Delhi court on Saturday framed charges against former Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh and his estranged wife Jagriti Singh for allegedly murdering their domestic help Rakhi Bhadra at their official residence in South Avenue here in 2013.
Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal framed charges against Mr. Singh after he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. The court fixed July 2 for recording of evidence of the father of the deceased. The court had on Friday ordered framing of charges against the couple saying there was sufficient evidence on record to send them on trial.
It framed charges of destruction of evidence (Section 201) against Mr. Singh. In the case of his wife, the charges framed include murder (Section 302), voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Section 324), voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means (Section 326), destruction of evidence (Section 201), intentional omission to give information of offence by person bound to inform (Section 202), wrongful confinement for 10 or more days (Section 344) and unlawful compulsory labour (Section 374) under the Indian Penal Code.
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The court had on Friday discharged Mr. Singh of charges, including murder and attempt to murder. Ms. Singh was discharged charges including attempt to murder, unnatural offences and buying and disposing of any person as a slave.
While the husband is out on bail, Ms. Singh in is judicial custody. The Delhi Police had charge sheeted the couple in February last year.
The charge sheet states the former MP’s wife used to beat her three domestic helps mercilessly. It is also alleged that they could never visit their hometowns, leave the 175 South Avenue flat or even talk to their families due to constant torture and surveillance.
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Rakhi’s body was recovered from Mr. Singh’s residence with injury marks on the legs, chest and arms on November 4, 2013.