Delhi maid abuse: Court rejects bail plea, says accused deserves no leniency

Taking a serious view of the allegations of  “gruesome and dastardly” treatment and  “extreme torture” inflicted on the victim in the Delhi maid abuse case, a local Delhi court today dismissed the bail plea of Vandana Dhir, accused of grievously injuring her domestic help, who she hired through a placement agency in June. In a strongly worded order the judge said the “accused does not deserve any leniency by the court”. [caption id=“attachment_1157433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Ibnlive.[/caption] In dismissing the bail plea, the judge relied on the victim’s statement detailing the abuse inflicted on her by Dhir (beaten with hot pans causing burn injuries, confinement, not allowed to wear clothes, not allowed to use the toilet inside the house, forced to drink urine, non-payment of salary), the victim’s medical report from Safdarjung hospital and the statement of a doctor at a private clinic that Dhir had taken the victim to twice (in July and September) for treating a head injury. “The investigation done so far only supports the version of the victim. The version that the victim is mentally unsound or that the injuries on her person are self-inflicted has been completely demolished by the statement of the doctor,” the judge said. Raising concerns about the mental health of the accused, the judge observed, “It is also pertinent to note that the facts of this case also demonstrate a very sick and problematic mental state of the accused. She has exhibited through her actions such monstrosity incapable of being explained as a conduct of a normal human being. She seems to be suffering from some kind of a personality disorder which leads to impulsive reactions, rage, resentment, aggression and venting it out on a weak and helpless target.” The judge, through her order, has given directions to jail authorities to provide for “psycho- analysis, therapy and counselling of the accused in jail and, if need be, then institutions with specialisation in such fields be approached for counselling of the accused.” Observing that the accused has suffered “stigmatisation and social condemnation”, the judge suggested that “it would be desirable if her employers may re-consider their decision of putting her under suspension, as the same would be in-sync with the rehabilitative and reformative approach of law.” According to Dhir’s lawyer, she has been “suspended from her job at Alstom (a French multinational company), where she was working at a very senior position.” The judge has also directed that the victim be provided with counselling so that she can " overcome the trauma faced by her". Describing this case as having “shocked the conscience of the people”, the judge observed, that it “highlighted the plight of young boys and girls trafficked from their native villages on the promise of a lucrative job in metros, only to be later abused and exploited here.” In her six-page order, metropolitan magistrate Gomati Manocha, observed that placement agencies 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.” The judge, in her order, emphasised the urgent need for legislation “requiring mandatory registration of placement agencies, payment of minimum wages to workers, decent living conditions and diet, security and protection against physical or sexual abuse or exploitation… Rather than curbing employment agencies all together, there is a dire necessity of a legislation regulating the functioning of these placement agencies and of an institutionalised sytsem protecting the interests of both the employers and the employees.” Dhir is facing the serious charge of “voluntarily causing grievous injuries using dangerous weapons or other means” (Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code). Other charges against Dhir are attempt to murder, trafficking, enforcing bonded labour and violating certain sections of the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Dhir, who lived with her 85-year-old mother in Vasant Kunj was arrested on 1 October and sent to 14-day judicial custody on 3 October. (Read full report here ) The placement agent, Dorothy, through whom Dhir employed the girl was arrested on Thursday.