New Delhi: It was meant to be a safe haven for toddlers, and a facility for working parents to leave their young ones in safe custody. But 'Paatshaala' play-school in Vashist Nagar in New Delhi turned out to be anything but that. Last December, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl student filed a police complaint alleging the principal's husband had sexually abused her on the premises. The play-school was run by Poonam Malik and her husband Pramod.
Both were arrested and the play-school sealed. Poonam Malik was out on bail soon after. Pramod Malik too got bail in just a few weeks, in spite of the serious charges of rape against him.
Mr DS Rawat runs a local NGO in the area. He says, "I was surprised when he got bail, though I haven't seen either of the two in the locality in the last one year. No one talks openly about what happened here. People murmur. Some say his behaviour at times was shady. But ask them to testify to the police, no one wants to get involved."
Though the girl's family now has legal help from a non-governmental organisation, in the first few weeks they were lost.
Though the case is in a special court it has not been fast tracked. It has seen repeated adjournments and is no closer to judgement day than a year ago. This family though has no option but to hold on for justice.
Both were arrested and the play-school sealed. Poonam Malik was out on bail soon after. Pramod Malik too got bail in just a few weeks, in spite of the serious charges of rape against him.
Mr DS Rawat runs a local NGO in the area. He says, "I was surprised when he got bail, though I haven't seen either of the two in the locality in the last one year. No one talks openly about what happened here. People murmur. Some say his behaviour at times was shady. But ask them to testify to the police, no one wants to get involved."
Advertisement
Though the girl's family now has legal help from a non-governmental organisation, in the first few weeks they were lost.
Advertisement
Though the case is in a special court it has not been fast tracked. It has seen repeated adjournments and is no closer to judgement day than a year ago. This family though has no option but to hold on for justice.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"We Know Who We Want": After Rishabh Pant's Non-Retention, Delhi Capitals Co-Owner Drops 'RTM' Hint IPL 2025 Retentions: Complete List Of Retained Players, Their Price, Remaining Purses Of All 10 Franchises Delhi Capitals IPL 2025 Retentions: Full List Of Players Retained And Released Walmart Employee's Big Claim After Indian-Origin Teen Found Dead In Oven Who Was Gursimran Kaur, Indian Teen Found Dead In Walmart Oven Businessman's Rs 1 Crore Rolex Gift To Contractor For Building His "Fortress" North Korea Says It Test-Fired Latest ICBM Hwasong-19 On Thursday Ex-Armyman Opens Fire At Man Over Parking Dispute In Pune; Arrested US Elections: 60 Million Cast Early Votes In Kamala Harris-Trump Tight Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.