Khushi Vats, Pune
The Delhi Police arrested the accused and his wife on Monday for allegedly raping a minor multiple times and impregnating her.
51-year-old Premoday Khakha, who is the Deputy Director of the Women and Children Department (WCD), has been held accountable for the crime along with his wife, Seema Rani. They were taken into custody on Monday afternoon.
The arrest was preceded by Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Arvind Kejriwal suspending the officer as soon as he got to know about the complaint. He also asked for a report into this matter by the Chief Secretary.
As per reports, the girl was raped and impregnated by the accused around two years ago. She was staying with the senior official’s family as he was her guardian after her father’s death in 2020. The official and his wife also made efforts to get the baby aborted.
The police said, “The accused have raped the girl multiple times between November 2020 and January 2021. His wife was continuously giving medicines to the minor to terminate her pregnancy.”
The minor narrated the whole story during a counseling session when she was admitted to St. Stephen’s Hospital, after having a panic attack in August 2023. The case was registered with Burari Police Station.
The case has been registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to outrage the modesty of a woman), 376(2)(f) (being a relative, guardian or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman), 120B ( (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the POCSO Act, and
506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 313 (causing miscarriage without a woman’s consent).
The minor’s statement hasn’t been recorded in front of the magistrate yet. “A medicolegal examination has already been done. The investigation is ongoing while she is recovering,” a police officer said.
Delhi Commission for Women Chief, Swati Maliwal protested against the incident in front of the hospital where the victim was admitted. She accused Delhi police of saving the accused by hiding facts and refused to leave before meeting the victim.
“He was a deputy director in the WCD for years. He repeatedly raped a 16-year-old. Then he and his wife inhumanely tried to abort the child which made her sick. Both of them have not been arrested yet.,” Swati Maliwal said.