Father kills himself over rape charge

A 58-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison after his daughter accused him of repeatedly raping her for the past 12 years in south Delhi’s Govindpuri, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased hailed from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district and worked as a driver with Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

According to police, he lived with wife and four children. “He consumed poison on Saturday and died at AIIMS Trauma Centre on Sunday. Initial probe has revealed that he took the extreme step due to embarrassment,” said a police officer.

In December 2013, his 32-year-old elder daughter had approached police saying that she did not want to stay with her family.

“The woman, however, refused to reveal the reason behind her decision,” the officer added. She was then shifted to a shelter home for women, Nari Niketan, at north Delhi’s Wazirabad.

Last week, the woman’s brother-in-law met her at Nari Niketan and asked about the reason behind her decision to abandon family. “He was shocked to hear that her father had been raping her for the past 12 years,” the officer said.

Her brother-in-law returned home and narrated the story to his wife — the woman’s younger sister. They decided to convince the woman to file a case of rape against their father.

On March 7, the woman’s sister and brother-in-law informed the Nari Niketan’s authorities about the matter and sought permission for taking her to Govindpuri police station. A case of rape was registered over her complaint and she was also sent to AIIMS for medical examination.

On March 8, the woman’s father came to know about the complaint and consumed poison in the absence of other family members. He was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he died during treatment on Sunday.

“We have ordered a probe into the matter. The woman is being counseled,” the officer added.