In a shocking and disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the city of Delhi, a senior government official has been accused of repeatedly raping a teenage girl. The victim, a now 14-year-old girl, endured a series of traumatic events that have shed light on the heinous nature of the crime.
According to police sources, the girl was allegedly drugged before each act of sexual abuse. On one occasion, she woke up to find injuries on her body, adding to the horrifying ordeal she had been subjected to. The accused, identified as Premoday Khakha, was a suspended senior official in the Delhi government. The young girl had been placed under his care, as her mother believed she would be safe with him following her father's untimely death in 2020.
The first instance of rape reportedly occurred on October 31, 2020, a short time after the girl's father passed away. Still grieving and traumatised by the loss, she was sent to Khakha's residence in Burari, northeast Delhi, by her mother. The girl, who had already been struggling with panic attacks since her father's death, continued to suffer during her stay with Khakha. Tragically, it is alleged that she was raped at least once more during her five-month stay.
The situation took an even darker turn when it was revealed that the accused's wife, Seema Khakha, allegedly assisted in procuring abortion pills for the victim after she became pregnant. The girl had reached out to Seema for help. These shocking revelations have led to the arrest of both Premoday Khakha and his wife, Seema Khakha.
The victim's road to justice began when she confided in a counsellor at a Delhi hospital, where she was seeking treatment for panic attacks. The traumatic experiences she endured finally came to light, prompting a swift response from the authorities. Despite the challenges she faced, the girl is now receiving therapy to aid her recovery from the repeated sexual assaults she endured.
Premoday Khakha's suspension and subsequent arrest have raised questions about the safety of vulnerable individuals in society. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party criticized the delay in arresting Khakha, shedding light on the urgency of addressing such cases promptly.
Delhi Commission for Women chief, Swati Maliwal, expressed her outrage, labeling Khakha a "predator." The case highlights the disturbing reality that those tasked with protecting the vulnerable can sometimes become perpetrators themselves, leaving survivors to grapple with the traumatic aftermath.
As the investigation unfolds, the hope remains that justice will be served and the survivor will receive the support and care she needs to heal from the physical and emotional scars left by this horrifying incident.
