Arrest of BSP MP, wife over maid torture: Ten things you need to know

The arrest of BSP MP Dhananjay Singh and his wife, Jagriti Singh has sent ripples of shock through India, not because of the arrests themselves, but because of the horrific crime they stand accused of. Jagriti Singh allegedly tortured and killed one of the domestic maids employed in her house, and her husband reportedly destroyed evidence linking her to the crime. Additionally, Jagriti allegedly assaulted a 17-year-old youth who was also employed in the couple’s home. Here are 10 facts about the gruesome case: * According to the testimony of the 17-year-old domestic youth, Jagriti Singh beat him and Rakhi Bhadra, the deceased 35-year-old woman from West Bengal, on Sunday night with an iron rod, sticks, an iron and the horns of a dead animal. The beatings had been going on for several months. * According to this report in the Hindustan Times which quotes the police testimony of the 17-year-old, Jagriti Singh would even brand their private parts with a smouldering iron on a whim. As a punishment, she would also make them stand in the sun for long hours, the police said. [caption id=“attachment_1213635” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image from IBNlive[/caption] * Jagriti instead of taking them to hospital, gave them first aid at home. Bhadra died on Monday. According to the police report quoted by HT, “On the morning of Diwali, Jagriti was supervising Rakhi as she cleaned the house. Jagriti suddenly pounced on Rakhi, furious that she wasn’t dusting the living room properly.” She pinned her to the ground and tried to strangle her before beating her up with a stick, he said. She threw her against the walls and finally pushed her down the stairs. “Rakhi didn’t get up after the Diwali day beating.” * The police have confirmed injury marks were found on the maid’s head, arms, legs and chest. * A maid working in another house told the IANS news agency that Jagriti used to torture her maid and servants. * Dhananjay Singh refuted the charges levelled against his wife. “I got a call last night that the maid had fallen and died. I rushed back home and informed the police. Now they are doing their job,” he said, adding the maid was working at his residence for around a year." * The BSP MP has been charged with destruction of evidence and obstructing investigation, and Jagriti Singh has been charged with murder. She has been booked under the sections of murder, attempt to murder and the Juvenile Justice Act for beating and torturing her maid and the 17-year-old youth. * The victim’s family is settled in Kolkata from where she was brought to the Capital through a South Delhi-based placement agency. She was recruited by Jagriti about 10 months ago. * According to The Hindu, which quotes the police, Dhananjay Singh himself reported the death of the maid around 9 pm on Monday. Subsequently, a police team went to his 175 South Avenue residence where it found the body. * Police said Jagriti was staying with her son and servants in a flat allotted in the name of Dhananjay Singh. There had been marital discord between the couple for the past seven months and Dhananjay is currently living in another flat.