DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal outside the hospital where a minor who was allegedly raped by a Delhi government officer is admitted.
Credit: PTI Photo
DCW chief Swati Maliwal sat on a dharna at a hospital on Monday, claiming that she was prevented from meeting the minor girl allegedly raped by a Delhi government official. Premoday Khakha -- a deputy director in the city government's women and child development department -- allegedly raped the girl several times between November 2020 and January 2021, a senior police officer had said. His wife allegedly gave the girl medicine to terminate her pregnancy.
Khakha and his wife were arrested after questioning on Monday. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson alleged that the hospital authorities did not allow her to meet the survivor.
"The director of the hospital came to meet the DCW chief and informed her that DCP (deputy commissioner of police) and ACP (assistant commissioner of police) of the Delhi Police are inside the hospital and had asked them to not allow her to meet the victim," the women's panel said in a statement.
The commission also sent a notice to the Delhi Police and the city government's women and child development and services departments, seeking action in the matter.
Maliwal said it was 'shocking' that the Delhi police did not arrest the accused even eight days after registration of FIR. "Even I was not allowed to meet the survivor on behest of the Delhi Police. I will meet the survivor and provide all possible support," she said.
The women's panel has also asked the Delhi Police to provide a copy of the FIR along with the details of arrests. It has also sought the details of action taken by the city government against the officer. The commission further sought details of complaints made against the officer in the past and action taken in that connection. The Delhi Police and the city government have been directed to provide their reports by Wednesday.
Responding to National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma's statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the DCW's 'own officer is been raping a girl since last two years', Maliwal said legal action will be taken against it for 'false accusations and defaming the commission'.
"Strongly object to the lies being spread by the NCW chairperson and some BJP politicians, stating that the accused is an employee of the DCW. The statement is a fake propaganda. Legal action will be taken against spreading of such fake news and defaming the commission," Maliwal said.
Khakha has been placed under suspension with immediate effect, according to an order issued by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier in the day ordered the chief secretary to suspend the officer.
According to the order, during the suspension period, the officer is not permitted to leave the department headquarters without obtaining prior permission. Speaking about the incident, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that it is 'surprising as to why the official was not suspended'.
'The incident is a shame on humanity. It is surprising as to why the official was not suspended. Today, the chief minister had to give an order for his suspension. Why hasn't the Delhi Police arrested him yet?' Bhardwaj told PTI earlier in the day.
The girl was staying with the accused, a family friend whom she calls 'mama', at his home after her father passed away in October 2020.
When the minor allegedly became pregnant, she informed the wife of the accused who later asked her son to get medicines for pregnancy termination and gave those to the girl. The girl returned home with her mother in January 2021 when she came to meet her. She had an anxiety attack in August and her mother admitted her to a hospital, where the girl, now a student of Class 12, narrated the whole incident during the counselling session.