Banker held for sexually exploiting daughter

PATNA: A bank manager has been arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting his daughter. The matter came to light when the 13-year-old girl managed to reach the

Gardanibagh

police station and narrated her ordeal.

Police arrested

Raju Kumar Singh

(42) from his residence at

Rajputana Colony

near Kali Bari under Gardanibagh police station area in Patna. Singh was posted at Allahabad Bank branch at Bihta.

City SP (Central)

Chandan Kushwaha

, who is acting

Patna SSP

, said the matter was being investigated.

Sources said it was around 3.30pm on Saturday when the girl reached the police station and narrated her story. Soon police with the help of a woman officer, recorded her statement and lodged an FIR under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354A (sexual harassment) of IPC and Section 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

“The girl, in her statement, said her father used to thrash her occasionally. She has also told the police that he used to sexually exploit her during night,” said an officer preferring anonymity, adding the victim was not studying anywhere.

He also said the girl told the police that Raju used to touch her inappropriately when she used to give him food. The officer said the girl also revealed that Raju used to forcibly feed her “red water” on some occasions at night causing severe headache to her next morning.

“Neighbours told the police that the persons regularly used to thrash the girl,” the officer said adding that several injury marks were visible on her body. She also said her father had an affair with a woman who had asked him to get rid of his daughter.

Police said Raju had married twice but both his wives had died. “His first wife died in 2005 and the second one passed away in 2013,” the officer said adding the girl was born out of the first wedlock.

Another police officer said Raju later met with an accident in which his right leg was permanently damaged. “Raju told the police she kept roaming around after he left for office and he used to scold her for that,” the officer said.

“The victim also has a younger brother who lives at his aunt’s house,” police said adding the girl was sent to remand home while Raju was forwarded to jail on Sunday.