NEW DELHI: Summoned by police for questioning following a Greater Kailash house burglary, a woman working as a domestic help there not only stoutly rubbished the allegations but also accused her employer—a businessman—of groping and inappropriate conduct. Surprising investigators, she went on to hand them a written complaint stating that the businessman had been harassing her by forcing her to give him massages and had even molested her on several occasions.

Police said the maid ’s story brought a twist to the case. Southeast district officials have now registered a case of molestation and outraging a woman’s modesty against the man and begun fresh investigations. The burglary probe has been put on the back burner.

It all started on June 19 when a businessman from GK’s S block, who lives there with his family, called up police around 11pm to complain about a burglary. A PCR van went to the spot followed by the local police, crime and forensic teams. “He told us he had kept gold jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh in his safe but when he opened it on June 19, the valuables were missing. He said he suspected his domestic help of having committed the theft,” said a source.

Police registered an FIR under Section 380 (theft in a dwelling house) IPC and began investigating in earnest. Call details of all servants were analyzed and suspects’ fingerprints taken. On Sunday, police called the maid for questioning.

However, when she reached the police station, not only was she defiant in rejecting the allegations but also told her questioners that the businessman had in fact been harassing her sexually. She submitted a written complaint saying the businessman forced her to give him massages during which he asked her to touch his private parts. She said he threatened her with dire consequences when she refused.

Police let her go after registering a case under sections 354 and 509 of IPC pertaining to molestation against the businessman based on her complaint.

When contacted, senior officers refused to share details. However, the case was being treated as a priority and no probe was affected because of a counter-complaint, officials said. The latest update has been that the businessman had not been arrested nor was the burglary case solved. SHO Greater Kailash Sandeep Ghai is investigating both cases.

Police have contacted several jewellers in the area and asked them to inform them if gold fitting descriptions offered by the businessman is brought to them for resale. CCTV footage is also being analysed.

