The minor has been detained wherein Bhanupriya accused her of stealing expensive items and money from her house. She, along with her mother, was reportedly detained by the Pondy Bazar police following a complaint by Gopalakrishnan, Bhanupriya’s brother. The complaint states that the child stole 10 sovereigns of gold, Rs 1 lakh in cash, an iPad, a camera and two watches. Thus far, the police managed to recover Rs 3,000 from the girl’s mother.
The petition by the child organisation states that under the provisions of the Child Labour Protection act, Bhanupriya should be arrested. Employing anybody below the age of 14 is an offence under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 2016. The Act states:
“Whoever employs any child or permits any child to work in contravention of the provisions of section 3 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years, or with fine which shall not be less than twenty thousand rupees but which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or with both: Provided that the parents or guardians of such children shall not be punished unless they permit such child for commercial purposes in contravention of the provisions of section 3.”
When the story broke out, Bhanupriya reportedly said that the minor domestic help had been working with her for over a year. She had stolen an iPad, jewellery, cash and a camera and gave them to her mother. Bhanupriya also said that the help and her mother confessed to the crime and returned the camera and iPad, and that Padma, the mother, left to her village on the pretext of getting cash and jewellery.
Read more about the story here.
