Maid murder: Delhi Police arrest BSP MP Dhananjay Singh, wife

New Delhi: BSP MP Dhananjay Singh and his wife Jagriti were on Tuesday arrested in connection with the murder of their 35-year-old maid and “merciless” torture of another minor domestic help with stick and rods. The body of maid Rakhi, with several injury marks on her legs, chest and arms, was recovered from Singh’s residence at South Avenue in New Delhi last evening after the MP himself informed the police. Police sources said both Dhananjay and Jagriti were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case. [caption id=“attachment_1212211” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Jagriti was taken into custody this morning and questioned for 12 hours, investigators said. An FIR was registered against her at Chankyapuri police station under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 344 (wrongful confinement) of Indian Penal code and Juvenile Justice Act. Police are mulling to add sections under Bonded Labour Act for hiring a juvenile. Police claimed the maid died due to injuries inflicted by the MP’s wife around 8.30 Monday morning, but the matter was reported by BSP MP to police only at 8.30 pm. They said the injury marks were visible on arms, legs and chest. Police also questioned Dhananjay to ascertain his role in the case. Another minor help, who has been working at the household for the last one year, told police that he was also beaten up badly by Jagriti. “The maid must have been beaten up mercilessly as her body bore several old and fresh injury marks,” said a senior police official. Dhananjay told police that he was away in his constituency Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and reached Delhi only in the evening and subsequently informed police, said investigators. Jagriti had called Dhananjay and informed him about the maid’s death, police said. Rakhi had been working at the MP’s residence for the last 10 months. According to police sources, Jagriti had been allegedly torturing her maid during this period. “Although she was torturing her for past many months, but the frequency of beating had gone up since November 1,” said a senior police officer. A string of cases involving torture of domestic helps has been reported from the city in the last few months. A 13-year-old maid was rescued from Sarojini Nagar in south Delhi on October 29. The girl was frequently beaten up and kept locked in her room for days by her employer who works as an airhostess. A month before a teenage domestic help, allegedly tortured by her female employer, was freed from a posh Vasant Kunj house. PTI