JOIN USA 14-year-old girl working as a domestic help for a septuagenarian was allegedly being raped by him daily over the last 12 days at north Delhi’s Malkaganj area.
The victim was rescued on Saturday night with the help of some neighbours whom she called out to following a failed escape bid. The accused was arrested.
Police told Deccan Herald that the victim’s aunt had been working as a domestic help for 77-year-old Mahender Sehgal. About two months ago she brought the victim to Delhi from her home in West Bengal. Sehgal had allegedly been molesting the minor ever since she arrived at the house.
“About two weeks ago, the girl’s aunt went on a long leave to her hometown. She asked the girl to work in her place till she returned. It was then that the accused began raping her,” a senior police officer said. The victim has also alleged that she was being forced to watch pornographic content by Sehgal.
The girl was allegedly being raped by Sehgal every single day since her aunt left the house. Sehgal would allegedly confine her to the house, never letting her out. “The girl would plead with him to let her go, but he would threaten her and force her to keep shut. She has claimed she would also be beaten up for resisting the rapes,” said the officer.
The accused would allegedly take advantage of his wife’s frequent visits to her relatives’ homes. Police are investigating if she was in any way aware of the happenings.
On Saturday afternoon, the accused allegedly tried to rape her again, but she managed to escape from the house. She approached some neighbours and narrated her plight after which police were informed of the incident.
The girl was taken to the Sabzi Mandi police station where her statement was recorded. She was subsequently sent for a medical test which confirmed rape. Sehgal was then arrested from his home.
The accused lives with his wife at Malkaganh whereas his children shifted to their own houses after their marriages. Sehgal runs a tour and travel business from his office in Connaught Place area, police said.
A case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against Sehgal. The victim has been counseled and her family, including her aunt, has been informed of the incident, police said.