Journalist booked for sexually harassing domestic help in Gurugram

The police received a complaint from the woman on Thursday afternoon after which a case was registered under section 354A (sexual harassment) at DLF Phase 3 police station.

Updated on: Jul 6, 2019, 07:56:59 IST

Gurugram | By Leena Dhankhar

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A 53-year-old senior journalist with a national daily was booked for allegedly sexually harassing his 25-year-old domestic help in DLF Phase-3 on Thursday, the police said on Friday. No arrest has been made so far.

The police received a complaint from the woman on Thursday afternoon after which a case was registered under section 354A (sexual harassment) at DLF Phase 3 police station.

Assistant commissioner of police (DLF) Karan Goel said the incident took place around 1am on Thursday. In her statement to the police, the woman alleged she was sexually harassed by her employer, for whom she has been working as a full-time help for the past four years. “She stated that her employer molested her but she managed to escape and took shelter at her friend’s house in the same society. She later informed the security staff who helped her approach the police,” he said.

The journalist did not respond to repeated calls and messages seeking a comment.

The complainant, a native of Odisha, told the police that around 1am she received a call from the suspect’s driver asking her to open the main door. According to the complaint, the accused barged in her room naked. The suspect started touching her inappropriately, but she ran downstairs.

“She said she locked herself in a bathroom. The accused followed her and tried to force the door open. She stayed confined for two hours before sneaking out and seeking help. No one from the suspect’s family was in the house at the time of the incident,” Goel said.

Police commissioner Muhammad Akil said the case was transferred to the Sector 51 women police station. “We are conducting a thorough probe and will take appropriate action,” he said.

The police said the woman did not turn up to record her statement in front of a magistrate on Friday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More