Rohtak Apna Ghar horror: 9 convicted of sexual abuse case

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 18

The CBI Special Court on Wednesday convicted nine of the 10 accused in the Apna Ghar sexual abuse case. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on April 24.  

Jaswanti Devi, who ran Apna Ghar, an NGO for destitutes and orphans at Rohtak, her daughter Sushma alias Simmi, son-in-law Jai Bhagwan, brother Jaswant Singh, driver Satish and his sister Sheela were tried for rape, immoral trafficking, grievous hurt, molestation, forced abortion and treating children with cruelty. All were held guilty.

Veena, a counsellor with Apna Ghar, was convicted of causing miscarriage, unlawful labour, criminal intimidation and cruelty to children. Roshni was found guilty of taking away a child born to an Apna Ghar inmate and forging the birth certificate. Ram Prakash Saini, who worked in close liaison with Jaswanti, was convicted of making an inmate work at his house.  

Angrez Kaur Hooda, then Child Development Project Officer, Rohtak, who regularly inspected Apna Ghar, was let off by the court. Defence lawyers SPS Parmar and Abhishek Singh Rana said she was accused of beating up inmates, but the prosecution failed to submit proof.

Jitendar Kumar represented the CBI. “There were allegations that Sushma filmed inmates naked but evidence proved otherwise. Since Roshni, Veena, Sushma, Sheela and Saini have not been taken into custody, they might get some relief,” defence counsel said.

About the case

• Jaswanti Devi ran project for destitutes, orphaned children and another one, Swadhar, for women from a house called Apna Ghar in Rohtak 
• Three inmates escaped on May 7, 2012, and reached Delhi where they spoke of “heinous activities” inside 
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights team visited the home on May 9 and interviewed the inmates
• Seven out of 10 persons who faced the trial were arrested on May 10; case was later handed over to the CBI
• First chargesheet was filed on August 7, 2012, and supplementary on September 16, 2013, which named three more accused

TALES OF TORTURE

• There were 35 victims among the witnesses — five were allegedly raped and the others subjected to molestation and beatings
• When one of them refused to part with her newborn, Jaswanti allegedly beat her up with a bamboo and inserted scissors in her private parts
• A victim said she was hit on the face due to which she had several broken teeth. She said Jai Bhagwan raped her twice.
• Another victim claimed she was taken to Chandigarh by Jaswanti and Satish where she was raped by a policeman, but she could not identify him
• Another girl said she was molested by Jai Bhagwan and Satish; examination revealed injuries with a blunt weapon 
• Another inmate said Jaswanti burnt her body with a pair of hot tongs when she resisted molestation by Jai Bhagwan