In a shocking incident in the Dwarka area of southwest Delhi, a pilot and her airline staffer husband were detained by the police after being accused of employing and torturing a 10-year-old girl as their domestic help. The couple, identified as Kaushik Bagchi (36) and Poornima Bagchi (33), now face serious charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Child Labour Act. The distressing situation came to light when the local police received information about a minor domestic worker being ill-treated by her employers. Responding swiftly to the tip-off, officers arrived at the scene and found the 10-year-old girl, who had reportedly been working as a domestic help for the couple for the past two months. Shockingly, she bore visible signs of physical abuse on her arms and under her eyes.
The alarm was raised by a relative of the young girl who discovered the injury marks and immediately alerted the authorities. As news of the alleged abuse spread through the neighborhood, enraged local residents took matters into their own hands and attacked the couple. The police intervened to quell the violence and subsequently detained Kaushik and Poornima Bagchi for questioning. Deputy Commissioner of Police, M Harsha Vardhan, confirmed that the couple had been booked under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.
Additionally, they were charged for violating the Child Labour Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. It has come to light that the woman is employed as a pilot with a private airline, while her husband works in the ground staff of another private airline. However, the duration of the alleged mistreatment inflicted on the young girl remains unclear. In the aftermath of the distressing incident, the 10-year-old victim has been taken for a medical examination and provided with counseling to address the trauma she endured. Fortunately, no allegations of sexual harassment have been made in connection with the case.
The girl was employed through one of her relatives, who also works in a nearby household. The police are diligently carrying out the necessary arrest procedures to ensure a thorough investigation. The case has sparked outrage and concern among the local community, shedding light on the importance of safeguarding the rights and welfare of domestic workers, especially children. Authorities are closely examining the evidence and statements to ensure justice is served to the innocent victim and appropriate punishment is meted out to the accused couple.