A man, accused of kidnapping a girl from the northeast and forcing her into slavery, has been acquitted by a Delhi court saying that merely being employed as domestic help would not mean she was exploited.
Additional Sessions Judge Manoj Jain absolved Uma Kant Rai, resident of Shakurpur here, of the charges of kidnapping and buying or disposing of a person as a slave under sections 363 and 370, respectively, of the IPC.
"There is nothing to show that any threat was extended to the girl by accused. There is nothing to demonstrate that he had used any force or coercion. There is no averment that he was responsible for her abduction.
"There is also no material suggesting fraud, deception or abuse of power. Even the crucial element of inducement is missing. Merely because the girl was employed as a domestic help would not mean that she was exploited or that she was kept as a slave," the judge said.
According to the prosecution, the girl's mother had lodged a complaint in July 2013, alleging that two years ago her daughter was kidnapped by Rai from their village in Assam and was brought to Delhi where she was pushed into slavery.
A few days later, police found the girl, who was claimed to be a minor by her mother, employed as a domestic servant in a house here, it said.
Charges were framed against the accused under sections 363 and 370 of IPC along with cruelty to a juvenile under Juvenile Justice Act.
The court, however, acquitted the accused while observing that the girl had denied all the allegations and claimed she went with him willingly in search of job.
It also could not be proved that the girl was a minor and charges under JJ Act were dropped by the court.
During the trial, the accused had denied the allegations levelled against him and claimed he was falsely implicated.
