Arvind Kejriwal orders suspension of Delhi govt officer accused of raping friend’s minor daughter

The police booked the senior officer and his wife on charges of rape and under the POCSO Act after the teenager alleged she was raped by him several times and that his wife made her take abortion pills.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Express file photo by Prem Nath Pandey)

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ordered the suspension of an officer in the Women and Child Department who has been accused of raping his friend’s minor daughter. Kejriwal has also asked the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the matter by 5 pm on Monday.

The Delhi Police booked the officer and his wife on charges of rape and under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the girl alleged she was raped by him several times between 2020 and 2021, and that his wife made her terminate the pregnancy by giving her abortion pills.

On Monday morning, the police said they went to the officer’s residence for regular questioning. They said they have not detained or arrested the officer yet. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) S S Kalsi said, “We are yet to record the statement of the minor before the magistrate. She is under observation (at the hospital) and we have been told she is under trauma. Investigation is on and action will be taken as per procedure.”

#WATCH | “A government officer who was sitting on the post of Deputy Director in the Women and Child Development Department for so long, has been accused of raping a 16-year-old minor girl and when she got pregnant, he and his wife tried to abort the pregnancy. We have issued… pic.twitter.com/3KbgNWICeF

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2023

According to the police, the accused and the girl’s parents, also government officials, met over three years ago. After she lost her father in October 2020, the accused officer allegedly offered to take her to his home and care for her. Her mother agreed since they were friends, the police said.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal said she asked the police why the officer was not arrested yet. “A government officer…in the Women and Child Development Department for long, has been accused of raping a 16-year-old minor girl and when she got pregnant, he and his wife tried to abort the pregnancy. We have issued notice to Delhi Police as to why he has not been arrested yet. We are also issuing a notice to Delhi government because we want to know if there are other complaints against him and if action has been taken,” Maliwal added.

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