GUWAHATI:An Assam MLA accused of sexually abusing his minor domestic help has gone into hiding.
“We conducted searches at his official as well as private residences in Guwahati but didn’t find him. He appears to be trying to evade arrest,” Kamrup Superintendent of Police Indrani Baruah told Express.
Police had registered cases under Section 343 of the IPC, and Sections 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against Opposition AIUDF MLA Gopinath Das, based on an FIR filed by the 14-year-old domestic help on Sunday night.
“The girl’s statement has already been recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC. The court gave her custody to her mother and she was staying with her (mother) at home,” the police officer added.
Meanwhile, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has criticised the police for not registering any case under the Child Labour Act against the MLA.
“It’s official that she is a minor. So, we have written to the Chief Minister and the Assembly Speaker to ensure that a case under the Child Labour Act is registered against the MLA,” said the Commission’s chairperson,Runumi Gogoi.
In her complaint, the domestic help alleged that she was sexually harassed by the MLA in his car on August 29. The MLA dismissed the charge and sniffed a “political conspiracy” behind the allegation.
“She alleged that I had sexually harassed her in my car. How can this be possible? I am always accompanied by my driver and personal security officers. If I had any intention to commit the crime, I could have easily done that at my residence because she used to live with us,” the MLA said.
The domestic help hails from the MLA’s constituency, Boko, which is around 45 km away from here.