Kabul woman molested at top hospital, cleaner arrested: Police
Max Healthcare says contract employee handed over to police, dismissed.
A 21-year-old cleaner at the Max Hospital in Saket allegedly molested an Afghan woman who had brought her ailing mother from Kabul for treatment at the hospital. The accused was arrested last week after he was caught by the hospital’s security staff while trying to flee, police said.
The police said the accused, identified as Amar Singh, was a contract employee.
The woman brought her mother to Delhi from Kabul on July 18 for treatment. The woman, along with her sister, was staying in the room where her mother was admitted, the police added.
The police said on July 24 at around 5 am, Singh allegedly entered their room and inappropriately touched the woman, who was sleeping. She woke up and started screaming.
She, along with her sister, tried to push him out of the room as the accused allegedly molested her, the police added.
As Singh fled the room, the victim fell down in the scuffle, breaking her teeth, the police said. Singh was caught by security staff. He was handed over to police and produced before a magistrate the following day after which he was sent to judicial custody till August 8, the police said. “Amar Singh was arrested under sections 376(c) and 325 of the Indian Penal Code. He is now in judicial custody,” DCP (South) Prem Nath said.
Max Healthcare issued a statement, saying, “We follow a zero-tolerance policy on any sexual misconduct incident with our employees or patients and their families. We have a comprehensive induction policy for our on-rolls and contractual employees. We also train our employees on compassion and correct conduct. We are highly disturbed about this condemnable incident in the hospital by a contractual employee. He was immediately handed over to the police and terminated by his employer on our instruction. We actively worked and supported the police in their investigation. The victim was admitted to the hospital and was provided all medical help to overcome trauma. The victim along with other family members have since left for Afghanistan.”
