The Hindu : New Delhi News : Placement agency owner arrested for alleged drugging and rape of job seeker

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Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Placement agency owner arrested for alleged drugging and rape of job seeker

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A bizarre case involving a 50-year-old placement agency owner who allegedly drugged and criminally assaulted a woman who had gone to his Karol Bagh office in Central Delhi seeking a job has been solved with the woman regaining consciousness well over 24 hours after the incident. The accused has been arrested by the police.

The 35-year-old victim, a resident of Keshavpuram here in the Capital, came across a newspaper advertisement by a placement agency on Wednesday morning offering a job opportunity. She reported at the agency’s office in Karol Bagh around noon for an interview, but did not return home till late at night.

Around 9 p.m., her brother grew suspicious and reached the agency’s office looking for her.

To his utter shock, he found her and the agency owner, Manmohan Singh, lying unconscious in the room. He reported the matter to the police and the two were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Until late on Thursday night the woman was unconscious and could not make a statement.

On regaining consciousness, she told the police that after she reached the placement agency’s office on Wednesday afternoon, Manmohan Singh offered her a cup of tea.

The tea apparently was laced with some sedatives. Soon after she had the tea, she felt giddy and passed out. Taking advantage of the situation, Manmohan Singh allegedly molested and criminally assaulted her.

Manmohan Singh, who purportedly had consumed some sex stimulant, also lost consciousness after the alleged assault.

“Since the victim was in a semi-conscious state and could not resist the attempt to assault her, there are no injury marks on her body. We are still awaiting the medical examination report to verify the charge,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Alok Kumar on Friday.

The woman, who got married more than a decade ago, has separated from her husband. She is at present staying with her brother.

PTI adds: The placement agency owner has been remanded by a city court to judicial custody for 14 days.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ashutosh Kumar, in whose court the owner of Navjeevan placement agency was produced by the police on Friday, sent him to custody till October 18.

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