A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed the bail plea of a woman placement agent who was arrested in connection with the case of alleged confinement and assault of a maid by her employer in Vasant Kunj which came to light early last month.
Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha rejected the bail application of the accused, Dorothy, who had arranged the maid for 50-year-old Vandana Dhir, also an accused in the case.
“The bail application of accused (Dorthy) is dismissed,” the court said, adding that it will give a detailed order later.
Dhir and placement agent Dorothy have been arrested in connection with the case lodged under various sections of the IPC, the Bonded Labour Act, the SC/ST Act and under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act.
Both are at present in judicial custody.
During the proceeding today, the police also informed the court that they have slapped Section 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave) of IPC against the accused.
Virender Verma, the counsel for NGO, opposed the bail plea, saying as the new sections have been imposed on the accused, which carries maximum seven years of jail term, the plea should be rejected.
The bail plea of key accused Dhir has already been rejected by the court which observed that a legislation for regulating placement agencies for domestic helps was “much needed”.
It had also directed jail authorities to provide “psycho analysis therapy and counselling” for Dhir.
While denying bail to Dhir, the magistrate had observed, “The placement agencies existing today have become havens of exploitation and are unable to ensure the well being of the work force employed through them and many of these young boys and girls become the subject of physical and sexual abuse”.
Earlier, the court had directed the police to probe the condition of other girls who could have been employed through the placement agency run by co-accused Dorothy.
The victim, a resident of Jharkhand, was rescued from Dhir’s Vasant Kunj home here, where she had been working as a domestic help and was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital with shocking injuries.
The girl was rescued by a joint team of NGO Shakti Vahini and Delhi Police from Dhir’s residence on the evening of September 30.
(Source:PTI)
