DCW chief Swati Maliwal.
Credit: PTI Photo
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday sent a notice to the Delhi Police, seeking the arrest of a senior Delhi government official accused of raping a minor and impregnating her.
The officer -- a deputy director in the women and child development department (WCD) -- had allegedly raped the girl several times between November 2020 and January 2021, a senior police officer had said, adding that his wife has also been charged with giving her medicine to terminate pregnancy.
Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), Swati Maliwal, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "If the one whose job is to protect the daughters turns into a predator, then where will the girls go?"
"In Delhi, a government officer sitting on the post of deputy director in the women and child development department has been accused of sexually abusing a girl child. The police haven't arrested him yet. Issuing notice to Delhi Police. If the one whose job was to protect the daughters turns into a predator, then where will the girls go! He must be arrested soon," Maliwal said.
The DCW chairperson also alleged that she was prevented from meeting the minor at the hospital where she is admitted.
"For half an hour the hospital administration is preventing me from meeting the minor victim. The guards said that the police asked them not to allow me. What is going on? First of all, you are not arresting the accused and on top of that you are preventing me from meeting the girl? What does Delhi Police want to hide?" Maliwal posted on X.
No immediate reaction was available from the hospital administration or the Delhi Police on the allegations levelled by Maliwal.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday ordered the suspension of the WCD officer. The chief minister has also sought a report from Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar by 5 pm on the matter, officials said.
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 CM (Arvind Kejriwal) had to give an order for his suspension. Why hasn't the Delhi Police arrested him yet?" Bhardwaj told PTI.
The Delhi government official has been booked for allegedly raping his friend's minor daughter several times and impregnating her, police had said on Sunday.
The girl was staying with the accused and his family at their house after her father passed away on October 1, 2020.
"He (the accused) is a deputy director in the WCD Department. Since an FIR has been lodged in the alleged matter, the law should take its course. The Delhi government is sensitive in regard to such serious matters of women's safety and child abuse. If he has committed any such reprehensible act, the sternest possible action should be taken against him," the Delhi government said in a statement earlier.
Police said the case was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 376(2)(f)(being a relative, guardian or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to outrage the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 313 (causing miscarriage without women's consent), 120B ( (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the POCSO Act.
The girl's statement is yet to be recorded before the magistrate, the police officer said, adding that an inquiry is being conducted into the matter.