New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court has directed police to handover to CBI investigation of a case in which a couple had allegedly sold off two maid servants after recruiting them through their placement agency.
"Considering the gravity of the issue and also the fact that it has inter-state ramifications, we are of the opinion that it would be appropriate if the investigation of the case is conducted by the CBI," said a division bench of justices A K Sikri and Ajit Bharihoke.
Directing the police to hand over the necessary records to CBI, the Bench said the agency would appoint a senior and competent officer to look into the matter and file a report before it.
The Bench's direction came on a petition filed by one Nepal Sardar alleging that on February 10, he sent two girls including his niece to work as a domestic help in the house of Sunil Jha, who along with wife Janaki Devi, runs a placement agency in Rohini.
Few days later, when he visited Jha's house he was told that Jha had vacated the house and shifted to Uttam Nagar. Meanwhile, one girl returned to him and told that she was sold off to a man outside Delhi.
After failing to trace Jha and his niece, Sardar lodged a police complaint and filed a habeas corpus petition before the High Court.
On May 24, police produced the girl before the court, which was told about the involvement of the couple in selling girls to various states.
Police have recovered several documents allegedly showing the involvement of the couple in the offence, but they are still at large.
"Considering the gravity of the issue and also the fact that it has inter-state ramifications, we are of the opinion that it would be appropriate if the investigation of the case is conducted by the CBI," said a division bench of justices A K Sikri and Ajit Bharihoke.
Directing the police to hand over the necessary records to CBI, the Bench said the agency would appoint a senior and competent officer to look into the matter and file a report before it.
The Bench's direction came on a petition filed by one Nepal Sardar alleging that on February 10, he sent two girls including his niece to work as a domestic help in the house of Sunil Jha, who along with wife Janaki Devi, runs a placement agency in Rohini.
Few days later, when he visited Jha's house he was told that Jha had vacated the house and shifted to Uttam Nagar. Meanwhile, one girl returned to him and told that she was sold off to a man outside Delhi.
After failing to trace Jha and his niece, Sardar lodged a police complaint and filed a habeas corpus petition before the High Court.
On May 24, police produced the girl before the court, which was told about the involvement of the couple in selling girls to various states.
Police have recovered several documents allegedly showing the involvement of the couple in the offence, but they are still at large.
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