Delhi Police arrest app-based househelp over fake rape complaint, extortion bid
Police said the app-based househelp threatened a 56-year-old customer with a rape case, demanded Rs 5 lakh, and was later caught accepting Rs 2 lakh.
A woman employed through home services platform Snabbit has been arrested for allegedly fabricating a rape complaint against a 56-year-old man and attempting to extort money from his family, Delhi Police officials said on Friday.
The accused, identified as Pooja Giri, approached police on June 30 alleging that she had been raped by JK Bhardwaj at Chitrakoot Apartments in Dwarka, where she had been assigned work through the platform. She claimed that Bhardwaj raped her after she completed a cleaning assignment at his residence.
Following the complaint, police launched an investigation. Officers found that shortly after making the accusation, Giri contacted Bhardwaj's son and demanded Rs 5 lakh, threatening to pursue criminal proceedings if the family did not pay.
Police said the accused also warned the family that she would register a rape case against Bhardwaj if they failed to meet her demand. A subsequent meeting was then arranged, during which Giri allegedly agreed to accept Rs 2 lakh. The transaction and negotiations were reportedly recorded on an electronic device.
Based on the statement of Bhardwaj, police registered a case under Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Giri was subsequently arrested, and the Rs 2 lakh was recovered, officials said.
A Snabbit spokesperson has issued a statement in connection with the investigation.
"We have been supporting the law enforcement authorities and have provided all information requested to assist their investigation. As a precautionary measure, both the customer and expert accounts have been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation. We will let the law take its course and stand ready to assist the investigating authorities further as required," the spokesperson said.
"Snabbit has a zero tolerance policy for any unlawful conduct by anyone using our platform and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities," the spokesperson added.
A woman employed through home services platform Snabbit has been arrested for allegedly fabricating a rape complaint against a 56-year-old man and attempting to extort money from his family, Delhi Police officials said on Friday.
The accused, identified as Pooja Giri, approached police on June 30 alleging that she had been raped by JK Bhardwaj at Chitrakoot Apartments in Dwarka, where she had been assigned work through the platform. She claimed that Bhardwaj raped her after she completed a cleaning assignment at his residence.
Following the complaint, police launched an investigation. Officers found that shortly after making the accusation, Giri contacted Bhardwaj's son and demanded Rs 5 lakh, threatening to pursue criminal proceedings if the family did not pay.
Police said the accused also warned the family that she would register a rape case against Bhardwaj if they failed to meet her demand. A subsequent meeting was then arranged, during which Giri allegedly agreed to accept Rs 2 lakh. The transaction and negotiations were reportedly recorded on an electronic device.
Based on the statement of Bhardwaj, police registered a case under Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Giri was subsequently arrested, and the Rs 2 lakh was recovered, officials said.
A Snabbit spokesperson has issued a statement in connection with the investigation.
"We have been supporting the law enforcement authorities and have provided all information requested to assist their investigation. As a precautionary measure, both the customer and expert accounts have been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation. We will let the law take its course and stand ready to assist the investigating authorities further as required," the spokesperson said.
"Snabbit has a zero tolerance policy for any unlawful conduct by anyone using our platform and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities," the spokesperson added.
