Navi Mumbai: Court Discharges 36-Year-Old Kharghar Woman In SC/ST Act Case Over Domestic Help's Allegations

Mumbai: A Kharghar resident had to run pillar to post to get herself cleared in a criminal case emanating from a petty dispute with her domestic help five years ago.

About The Case

The special court for cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act recently discharged the 36-year-old homemaker, Anubha Verma, booked on the complaint of her help, Sunita Yede, for alleged casteist remarks. The homemaker had alleged that the case was lodged after she caught her help stealing Rs 2,000 from her purse in February 2020.

As per the complaint lodged by Yede on February 12, 2020, she started working at Verma’s house three months prior to the incident. She claimed that Verma was short-tempered and would pick up quarrels for small issues.

On the day of the incident, Yede claimed she was late to work, following which Verma abused her. She claimed that Verma continued to hurtle abuses even when she apologised. Yede also claimed that Verma got her signature on some blank papers. The police recorded the statement and supplementary statement of Yede, the security guard Nitin Thakur, manager Bhartedu Thakkar, Yede’s brother Vishwas Katarmal as well as Verma and her husband.

In her discharge plea filed through advocate Sujit Shelar, Verma alleged that Yede was aggressive while wanting to get her dues cleared, so took the money from her purse. She also alleged defamation within the housing society. However, the court, after hearing both the sides, discharged Verma for want of cogent evidence to support Yede’s statement.