Rape by Delhi govt official: DCW chief Maliwal continues ‘dharna’ at hospital after denied meeting with victim

New Delhi [India]: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal continued her sit-in on Tuesday at a hospital after she was stopped from meeting the minor, who was allegedly raped by a senior official of the Delhi government.

Accusing Delhi Police of ‘hooliganism’, the Delhi women’s panel chief said questioned why she wasn’t being allowed to meet the minor or her kin when the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson had met her mother.

Delhi Police on Monday arrested the government official for alleged sexual assault on the minor. His wife was also arrested in connection with the case.

It was alleged that the minor had been sexually assaulted for several months resulting in her becoming pregnant.

“Delhi Police is indulging in hooliganism. They are neither allowing me to meet the girl nor her mother. I can’t understand what is Delhi Police trying to hide from me. I am told that the NCPCR chairperson was allowed to meet the girl’s mother. When the NCPCR chairperson can meet the (minor’s) mother, why can’t the DCW chief?” Maliwal questioned.

Earlier, on Monday, BJP leader and the daughter of late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, Bansuri Swaraj, accused the DCW chief of obstructing the ongoing investigation in the matter.

She said, “Swati Maliwal-ji is responsible for ensuring justice for the minor. Why is she sitting on a protest and obstructing the investigation?”

According to police, following the death of her father, who was also a Delhi government employee, the minor took up residence with the accused in Burari from October 2020 to February 2021.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday suspended the accused official, pending inquiry.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, Premoday Khakha, Assistant Director is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect,” read an official order issued by the Delhi government.