Shruti Suman
A young girl, who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a high-ranking officer within the Delhi government, disclosed the abuse to medical professionals after being admitted to the hospital due to a sequence of panic attacks, as reported by police sources.
Premoday Khakha is facing accusations of raping the teenager, who is the daughter of his friend, on multiple occasions over a period of five months spanning from October 2020 to February 2021. The girl, who was 14 at the time, became pregnant during this timeframe. Allegedly, Khakha’s wife provided her with abortion pills to terminate the pregnancy at home, while keeping the matter secret.
The ordeal took such a severe toll on the girl’s mental well-being that she experienced a series of panic attacks. Alarmed by her condition, her mother promptly took her to a hospital. The girl received psychological therapy, during which she revealed the ongoing sexual assault she had endured from her father’s friend, whom she referred to as “mama” (uncle).
Subsequently, the medical professionals alerted the police, who acted swiftly to file a case of child abuse and initiate legal proceedings. Senior police officer Sagar Singh Kalsi stated, “We filed a case on August 13, approximately a week after the girl was admitted to the hospital.”
According to the official report (FIR), Khakha was a close acquaintance of the girl’s father, who passed away in 2020. Following her father’s death, the girl’s mother sent her to Khakha’s residence in Burari to live with him and his wife. During her five-month stay there, she was subjected to repeated instances of sexual assault, as outlined in the FIR.
Police sources reveal that the girl is currently not in a condition to provide a statement before a magistrate. Nevertheless, authorities are making arrangements to facilitate this process as soon as her condition improves.
The allegations against the officer have triggered widespread outrage, leading Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take steps toward suspending him from duty.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj condemned the officer’s actions as a “heinous act” that has deeply “shaken society.” He emphasized, “We all have daughters, and this incident is a source of great shame. The officer should face the maximum legal consequences.”
Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, has issued a notice to the Delhi Police, demanding the immediate arrest of Khakha. She expressed her concern with a powerful statement, “When those entrusted with safeguarding our daughters become predators, where can the girls turn?”
