NGOs, police team save battered maid, her employer arrested

A 50-year-old woman has been arrested after a grievously injured domestic help was rescued from her house in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj on Monday. Vandana Dhir was held on the basis of the victim’s statement, police said on Tuesday.

The maid, who hails from Jharkhand’s Sahebganj district, was rescued by police, Delhi Commission for Women, members of NGOs Shakti Vahini and Sai Sewa Kripa Samiti around 8 pm. She was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment.

R K Rai, member of children home, Kasturba Niketan Complex in Lajpat Nagar, said they will take custody of the victim after she is discharged from the hospital. “She was visited by chairperson Paramjeet Kaur Kukreja on Tuesday,” Rai added.

Police said she is 18 years old but some other agencies said she could be a minor.

Dr B D Athani, Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital, said she has suffered cut injuries to her scalp, and bruises and abrasions on her face, legs and hands. “Doctors have taken care of her wounds and she is currently stable. She has been subjected to investigations,” he added.

Despite the injuries, doctors declared her fit for statement after which it was recorded by officers of Vasant Kunj North police station. Subsequently, her employer Vandana, who works with a Noida-based company as country communications director, was arrested.

Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini, said there were open wounds on her head and her body bore multiple injuries. “Her eyes were protruding, ears were swollen and cuts all over her body. On Monday, we suspected that she was bitten by her employer’s dogs, but the victim has denied it,” he added.

The teen told police that she came to the Capital with her aunt after her father passed away last year. “I was employed at the house of Vandana madam in Vasant Kunj sector A, but was never paid for my services over the past one year” she stated.

She alleged that Vandana used to taunt and beat her up over random issues. “I was attacked with knives, sticks and broom several times due to which I sustained injuries all over my body,” she said.

It is further claimed that Vandana never agreed to the maid’s wish of returning to her native place. She said whenever she raised the issue, she was kept confined in a room. “To stop me from running away, Vandana never gave me proper clothes to wear at home,” she told police.
A case under Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and Indian Penal Code has been filed with Vasant Kunj North police station. The charges are of causing grievous hurt and wrongful confinement.

Shakti Vahini had contacted police following a tip-off that a domestic help was kept confined and was being tortured by her employer. Police along with Shakti Vahini, Delhi Commission for Women and Sai Sewa Kripa Samiti reached the house where an elderly woman answered the door. She, however, refused to let the teams meet the domestic help, and told them to wait for her daughter to return home.

Her daughter returned home around 8 pm, but initially refused to let the teams meet the domestic help. However, police intervened and rescued her.