Samajwadi Party MLA, wife booked for torture and child labour, minor rescued from their home

Another teenager, who was found to have worked there for two years, was rescued earlier in the week.

A case has been registered against Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Zahid Beg and his wife, Seema Beg, for allegedly torturing and holding a minor girl captive as a domestic worker. The Labour Department and Bhadohi Police took action after a 17-year-old girl was rescued from the MLA's residence, following the suicide of another teenager at the same location earlier this week.

The Labour Department, based on a recommendation from Child Welfare Committee Chairman PC Upadhyay, filed the case under sections of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, Juvenile Justice Act, and other relevant laws. Labour Enforcement Officer Jai Prakash Singh lodged a formal complaint against the couple after the minor girl was freed during a raid by Bhadohi Police and Labour Enforcement Department personnel.

Bhadohi SP Meenakshi Katyayan confirmed that the 17-year-old girl had been working as a domestic servant in the MLA's home for eight to nine years. Another teenager, who was found to have worked there for two years, was rescued earlier in the week. The rescued minor has since been transferred to a government children's home in Prayagraj for her safety.

"The Labour Department has issued a notice to the MLA and his wife, accusing them of forcing the 17-year-old to work without pay, in violation of child labour laws," said Singh. The notice demands a response from the couple within a week regarding the allegations of child exploitation.

The case comes on the heels of a tragic incident earlier this week when another teenager, also working at Beg's residence, died by suicide. This prompted the authorities to investigate the conditions under which the minors were being employed.