Was there a procedural lapse in the matter? Delhi govt women’s panel comes under fire over minor rape case

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Woman and Child Development department of the Delhi government and his wife were arrested on Monday in connection with the rape of a minor girl, police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi said police have arrested the bureaucrat and his 50-year-old wife both in connection with the incident. «The accused have been identified as Premoday Khakha and his wife Seema Rani, residents of Shakti Enclave in Burari area.

Seema is a housewife. The case was registered on August 13,» Kalsi said. Premoday Khakha has been accused of raping a minor girl several times between November 2020 and January 2021, a senior police officer had earlier said.

Khakha's wife also allegedly gave the girl medicine to terminate her pregnancy. The big question Meanwhile, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chief Priyank Kanoongo said that the Delhi Police didn’t act on time and there was a procedural lapse in the matter. NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo told ANI, «There seems to be a procedural lapse in this matter. If a child's father or mother died in the period starting April 2020 or the child became an orphan and they need guardianship, then as per Supreme Court order, all their details have to be registered on NCPCR's Baalswaraj Portal.

Delhi Govt had said that it has registered the details of all such children. But we have not found her details so far.» «We have asked the officers of the Delhi Govt, the name of the child and entry for her in Baalswaraj Portal...The role of the Church seems suspicious too. The child is yet to give a statement before Child Welfare Committee.