A Mira Road resident was on Sunday arrested for employing a minor girl as a maid and torturing her by making her eat chillies and denying her food. Sarjil Ansari, 38, a dealer in napkins, and his wife Farhat, 35, would assault the 11-year-old girl and increase the volume of the sound system to ensure that the neighbours do not hear her cries.

The police said the couple bought the girl from Badaun area of Uttar Pradesh for Rs15,000 a year ago, They promised the girl’s parents that they would take care of her and educate her in Mumbai.

However, the residents of Govind Nagar in Mira Road (East) forced the minor to do menial household chores and take care of their 18-month-old daughter.

She was denied food and assaulted. The police said whenever she urinated during the assault out of fear and pain, the couple would insert chillies in her private parts and force her to eat them.

Her trauma ended when the neighbours got to know of the torture and complained to the police.

“The minor girl revealed the torture she had to face. She said whenever she cried, the couple increased the volume of the sound system and assaulted her if she did not complete the chores in time,” said a police official.

“We have registered a case against the couple under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. While Sarjil has been arrested, his wife is absconding,” said inspector Arun Nikam of the Mira Road police station.

Nikam said the girl is in the custody of an NGO.