Doctor couple delay return from Thailand

The doctor couple accused of leaving their 13-year-old maid locked up and starving in their house while they vacationed in Thailand have temporarily cancelled their return to India, the police said Saturday. Karn Pratap Singh reports. Rescued maid’s daily diet: 2 rotis, abuse | The charges|The torture tales

The doctor couple accused of leaving their 13-year-old maid locked up and starving in their house while they vacationed in Thailand have temporarily cancelled their return to India, the police said Saturday.

Dr Sanjay Verma and Dr Sumita Verma were expected back in the city in the morning. A team from the Dwarka south police station was sent to the Indira Gandhi International Airport arrival area. But the Vermas weren’t on the passenger lists of any flight scheduled to arrive from Thailand on Saturday.

Investigators are now planning to get a lookout circular issued against them, sources said.

“We’d made elaborate arrangements to nab them at the airport. Teams were also positioned outside Hahnemann Apartment in Sector 6, from where the victim was rescued Thursday. Another team was sent to Vikaspuri to the house of Sanjay’s father, who confirmed their plan to cancel their return,” said an officer.

An HT team found the Vermas’ clinic in Dwarka’s Sector 19 locked, with a paper notice saying it would remain closed till March 30. A neighbour said the clinic employees were not happy with the doctors.

"They (Vermas) used to abuse them even for minor mistakes. The staff always complained that they were never paid on time."

The victim was rescued five days after the Vermas left home, the frugal rations they left her having lasted just two days. Her medical examination report revealed frequent physical abuse, a police officer said.

The police have lodged an FIR against the couple under the Juvenile Justice Act, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act and IPC.