The woman was staying in Delhi with her younger sister and ailing mother who was undergoing treatment at the hospital, police said on Saturday.
The accused has been identified as Amar Singh, a housekeeper at the Max Super Speciality Hospital in Saket. Around 5 am on July 24, while the Afghan woman had fallen asleep in a couch next to her ailing mother’s bed, the accused had entered the room for the purpose of cleaning. He allegedly took advantage of the situation and held the woman from behind and tried to force himself upon her, said a senior police official. He further said, the woman raised an alarm, which woke up her younger sister who was also sleeping in the same room. When both the sisters blocked Singh’s way, he allegedly tried to fight them off and flee the spot. However, the sisters managed to pin him down and hand him over to the security guards of the hospital. The matter was reported to the police and an FIR was registered under Sections 376C/511 (attempt of intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, or any other place of custody established by law) and 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of IPC, said Prem Nath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).
On July 25, Singh was produced before a magisterial court, which sent him on a 14-days judicial custody. The woman’s complaint was also registered before a magistrate on July 29, said a source.
As reported by a news agency, Max Hospital authorities stated that the accused was immediately handed over to the police and was terminated. “We follow a zero tolerance policy on any sexual misconduct incident with our employees or patients and their families. We have a comprehensive induction policy for our on-rolls and contractual employees,” the hospital said in an unsigned statement.
Asked about the help provided to the victim from the hospital, the authorities said: “The victim was admitted and was provided all medical help to overcome trauma. The victim along with other family members has since left for Kabul.”