Wife of liquor chain owner held for assaulting domestic help at Gurugram's Camellias

A 52-year-old woman, Ruchira Sachdeva, a resident of the upscale Camellias high-rises in Gurugram, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting her 22-year-old house help and confining her at the residence, police have reported. The incident, which came to light after a 90-second video of the altercation was widely shared on social media, was captured reportedly by an occupant of an adjacent flat.

The police registered a first information report (FIR) against Sachdeva under Sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 127(2) (wrongful confinement) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after taking "suo motu" action based on the video. The house help, a Nepal national, was seen being assaulted repeatedly by Sachdeva in the video, including being pulled by her hair, choked, and shoved into the kitchen, as per a police officer familiar with the case.

The police are investigating whether such incidents took place in the past. Sachdeva, who is the wife of a liquor chain proprietor, told the police that the incident happened on the night of July 24. She was reportedly allowed to return to Nepal on July 27 after the incident. The couple also presented a document signed by the victim requesting no legal action against them. The authenticity of this document's willingness to sign is now under investigation.

Police have noted that the victim was not permitted to use a phone or leave the house, an allegation currently being probed. The police team approached Sachdeva on Monday, recognized her through her face in the video, and arrested her upon questioning at the Sushant Lok police station. The victim's statement is being recorded by the police, following which it will be determined if the assault was repeated or singular, and if she consented to not pursuing legal action against her employer, according to the police.