Delhi: Officer accused of raping friend’s daughter suspended and taken into custody

In 2020, a 14-year-old girl had lost her father during the pandemic. She stayed with Premoday Khakha, a government employee between October 2020 to February 2021 after her father’s death. During this period she was repeatedly raped by him during this period. This had led to her becoming pregnant. Upon this, she was forced to take abortion pills from the officer’s wife. 

The girl had developed severe anxiety issues as a result of this. She was directed to obtain counselling and it was during these sessions that what had unravelled during that period came to the forefront. The police have registered an FIR against Premoday Khaka under several sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). His wife has also been charged for abetting the crime and for not reporting the incident under Section 120-B. 

Cheif Minister Arvind Kejriwal issued directives to have the individual suspended from his duties. Premoday Khakha worked as a Deputy Director with the Department of Women and Child Development.  Delhi Commission for Women chairperson, Swati Maliwal has made allegations that she was prevented from meeting the victim in the hospital.