5 years of torture: How helpers turned UP house into private jail for owner, his daughter

• Couple accused of confining retired clerk, daughter for 5 years in Mahoba
• Victims were allegedly starved and isolated; daughter found severely weakened
• Police investigating claims of illegal confinement and financial exploitation

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A domestic help couple in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district has been accused of holding a 70-year-old retired railway clerk and his mentally challenged daughter captive in their own home for five years, in a disturbing case that came to light only after the elderly man’s death.

According to a report by TOI, the victims, Omprakash Rathore and his 27-year-old daughter, were allegedly starved and confined by the couple, who were originally hired for their care. Relatives discovered the horrific situation on Monday after being informed of Rathore’s death.

Upon arrival, family members described a scene of profound neglect. Rathore’s body was found in a shrunken state, leading them to believe he may have died several days prior. His daughter was discovered locked in a dark room, appearing skeletal and severely weakened. She was subsequently rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention.

Rathore’s brother, Amar Singh, was cited by TOI as saying that the couple was employed in 2016 following the death of Rathore’s wife. He alleged that, driven by greed to seize Rathore’s property, the help systematically isolated the father and daughter.

“The couple gradually took over the entire house and confined the father and daughter to the ground floor rooms, while they lived comfortably on the upper floor,” Singh claimed. He further alleged that the duo barred all relatives from visiting, insisting the pair did not wish to meet anyone and had even replaced the house’s nameplate with their own.

Mahoba Superintendent of Police Vandana Singh confirmed that the two helpers had been caring for the deceased and his daughter for approximately eight years. The postmortem report, she stated, cited chronic lung disease as the cause of Rathore’s death.

The superintendent noted that the deceased's daughter was described as mentally disabled and had been found in an extremely weak state at the scene. She confirmed that family members had levied allegations against the two domestic helpers and that the investigation had so far established the couple had been providing care for the man and his daughter for eight years.

Police sources reportedly indicated a complex picture was emerging, with an officer involved saying that preliminary enquiries suggested Rathore’s relatives had made no attempts to look after him or his daughter in recent years. The officer stated that while the relatives' allegations were under investigation, action would follow based on its findings.

The police are now investigating the serious allegations of illegal confinement, deprivation and financial exploitation, while also examining the relatives’ claims that the helpers had access to Rathore’s bank accounts.