DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Monday night staged overnight protest at a hospital, claiming that she was prevented from meeting the minor girl allegedly raped by a Delhi government official.
"Delhi Police is indulging in hooliganism. They are neither allowing me to meet the girl nor her mother. I can't understand what do the Delhi Police want to hide from me. I am being told that the NCPCR chairperson was allowed to meet the girl's mother. When the NCPCR chairperson can meet the mother, why is the DCW chief not being allowed for the same?..," Maliwal said.
Who is the accused?
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.
Who is the victim?
The victim, a student of Class 12, was living with Khakha family after her father’s death in 2020. The accused was her local guardian. According to reports, the girl used to call him ‘mama’ (maternal uncle).
Meanwhile, the police said the accused and his wife were arrested and further enquiry is underway.
The DCW 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.
