Doctor couple postpone their return plans

After hearing of the girl’s rescue,however,the Vermas called up Sanjay’s father,who lives in Vikaspuri,to say that they have postponed their return plans.

Police intend to issue a red corner notice against the couple if they do not return to the country by Monday.

The 13-year-old girl was rescued from B 2/6,Hahnemann apartments in Sector-6,Dwarka,on Thursday,after neighbours heard her crying for help from the balcony of the second-floor apartment.

The child,a resident of Jharkhand,was brought to Delhi by an uncle who promised her a job.

Sanjay is a diabetes specialist and has worked with Ayrshire

Hospital in Scotland,and RML and LN hospitals in Delhi. Sumita,a gynaecologist,was a resident doctor at ESI and Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. They run a clinic in Sector-19,Dwarka.

On Saturday,Newsline found a handwritten note outside the clinic stating ‘The clinic will be closed from 26.3.2010 to 30.3.2012’.

A resident of the area said the clinic “was set up about 10 years ago”. “Here,too,the couple had employed domestic helps who wouldn’t work for more than two months. They weren’t paid,” the resident said.

The child,in her statement before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC),has alleged that she was beaten and tortured by the couple. They reportedly left behind only rotis and salt for her. She said the couple had installed CCTV cameras in the house and threatened her to not touch the vegetables in the refrigerator as they would scan the CCTV footage after returning.

Investigating officers said they have reviewed the list of all passengers on board flights from Bangkok to Delhi,and the Vermas were not on any list.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) A K Ojha said,“We have deployed our teams. Investigations are underway.”

Sources said a police team was also sent to the Punjabi Bagh-based placement agency,which handed over the child to the couple. However,the owner seems to have shut shop and fled.