Delhi HC Ensures Anonymity, Seeks Clarity on Multiple Assaults in Teen’s Abuse Case

New Delhi, August 28, 2023: The Delhi High Court has stepped into the case involving a teenager’s sexual abuse by a now-suspended Delhi government officer, urging the police to safeguard her identity while also inquiring into the possibility of her facing multiple instances of assault.

The 17-year-old girl has made allegations against Premoday Khakha, a senior officer in the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development department, accusing him of repeatedly raping her during her stay with his family.

The victim disclosed that Khakha, known to her late father, provided her refuge with his wife Seema Rani after her father’s demise in 2020. In her grievous account, she revealed that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Khakha, leading to her pregnancy. Allegedly, Khakha’s wife administered abortion pills to terminate the pregnancy.

The revelation surfaced after the girl suffered recurring panic attacks and subsequently opened up about her traumatic experience during therapy sessions, prompting medical professionals to alert the authorities.

Following swift action, a police case was filed under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Khakha was immediately suspended from his post, and he and his wife were arrested, currently under judicial custody.

Khakha, however, contests the claims. He asserts that a vasectomy operation in 2005 renders him incapable of impregnating the teenager. His attorney, Umashankar Gautam, has confirmed that the court has requested a report from a medical board, evaluating the validity of Khakha’s vasectomy procedure, before his judicial custody concludes on September 6.

The court’s proactive stance in protecting the victim’s identity underscores the importance of ensuring her security as the legal proceedings unfold.