Woman Allegedly Assaults, Disrobes Minor Maid For Not Finishing Work On Time

A woman in India has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a minor domestic help, forcing her to disrobe herself after the girl failed to finish her work on time, police said.

The 25-year-old woman, who calls herself a struggling actor, is a resident of Versova, Mumbai. She has been accused of torturing her unidentified domestic help on several occasions, claiming that the girl did not work properly. The incident came to light last week after the girl was hospitalized with injuries to her head. The minor complained to police that the woman used slippers to beat her up, accusing her of not completing her work. The woman allegedly forced the girl to disrobe herself before taking her photos and videos, The Indian Express reported.

Investigators found out that the underage girl was working as a domestic help at the woman's apartment for the past four months. The girl shared her ordeal with her sister after she was hospitalized with injuries. Based on the sister's complaint, police registered a case against the accused on charges of assault, use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe, and intentional insult of a minor, The Free Press Journal reported.

The investigators have not revealed the identity of the accused. “We have arrested the accused, who claims to be a struggling actor. She is in the police custody till Monday,” said Siraj Inamdar, a senior investigating officer.

According to police, the accused employed the girl as her domestic help after knowing she was a minor. Although in India it is illegal to employ minor children for work, child labor still remains an issue in various parts of the country due to poverty and illiteracy. According to Indian law, children below 14 years are prohibited from being employed in all occupations.

In April, a couple in Singapore appeared in court for trial on multiple charges of abuse for assaulting their domestic help. The accused woman identified as Nachammai Nachiappan, a primary school teacher, allegedly hit her domestic help with a hot ladle and a clothes hanger. Nachiappan's husband, Arunachalam Muthiah, was also accused of kicking the maid and punching her.