NEW DELHI: Saurabh Bhardwaj, the Delhi unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been booked by the Delhi Police for allegedly disclosing the identity of a three-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted at a private school in west Delhi, an officer confirmed on Tuesday.
Legal Action Under Multiple Acts
The case was registered at Janakpuri Police Station under Section 72 (disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, according to news agency PTI.
Details of the Original Assault
The three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 57-year-old staff member inside a private school. The incident came to light on May 1 after the child's mother approached the police. According to the complaint, the girl attended school on April 30, just a day after her admission. After returning home, she complained of pain. When her mother questioned her, the child allegedly stated that a staff member had taken her to a secluded area on the school premises and assaulted her.
Arrests Made in the Case
Based on the complaint, the police arrested the accused staff member. Subsequently, a female teacher from the same school was also arrested as the investigation progressed. Now, a separate case has been registered against Bhardwaj for allegedly revealing the identity of the minor survivor, an act strictly prohibited under law, the officer said.
Bhardwaj's Response
Meanwhile, Bhardwaj posted on X (formerly Twitter): "BJP's Central Govt has filed one more FIR against me for disclosing the name of a school in the rape case of 3-year-old girl." He did not address the disclosure of the victim's identity directly.
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