Suspended BJP leader Sima Patra was arrested by Ranchi police.
Sima Patra was accused of torturing a tribal maid.
She will appear in court later that day.
BJP leader Sima Patra, suspended after being accused of torturing her domestic help, was arrested by Ranchi police in the wee hours of Wednesday. Police sources said Sima Patra would be taken to court later that day and sent to jail.
Seema Patra fled for fear of being arrested by the police, whereupon the Argora police in Ranchi began searching for her. Sunita, who worked as a maid, was allegedly forced to clean the toilet with her tongue.
Sunita had multiple wounds all over her body. She claimed that Sima Patra burned her with hot objects.
The case against Patra, the wife of former IAS officer Maheshwar Patra, was registered under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections of the SC-ST Act 1989 at the Argoda police station in Ranchi. Sunita’s statement was recorded in the Section 164 court on Tuesday. The Jharkhand BJP removed Seema Patra from her position after she was accused of abusing domestic servants.
The Ranchi police also raided several locations to arrest Seema Patra, and acting on a tip, the police arrested her as she tried to escape from Ranchi on the road.
Who Is Sima Patra?
Seema Patra is the government organizer of the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign. She was a member of the women’s wing of the BJP and is the wife of former IAS officer Maheshwar Patra.
Seema Patra’s son, Ayushman, who worked in the secretariat of state, tried to protect the maid and informed his friend Vivek Baska about the happenings at home. Sunita eventually revealed her ordeal to Vivek and was saved with his help.
The National Women’s Commission has taken note of reports that Seema Patra is harassing her servants in Jharkhand.
In a statement, NCW Chairman Rekha Sharma said the commission had sent a letter to the DGP in Jharkhand demanding that the accused be arrested if the allegations were confirmed.
