Child Abuse Case Involving Ollywood Actress Riya De Transferred to Cuttack Police

Ollywood actress Riya De faces allegations of child abuse after a minor employed as her domestic helper escaped and reported the abuse. The case, now under Cuttack police, involves both Riya and her husband.

Cuttack, Odisha: The case of child abuse involving Ollywood and Odia film actress Riya De has been transferred from Bhubaneswar to the Bidanasi Police Station in Cuttack. Following the transfer, the Bidanasi police registered the case and began an investigation. 

On Thursday, the accused, Riya De, was interrogated by the police.According to reports, a minor girl from the Salepur area was employed as a domestic helper at Riya De’s residence in Bidanasi, Cuttack.

The minor was hired by a woman known to her family, with an agreed monthly salary of ₹8,000. Allegations have surfaced that Riya De physically assaulted the minor whenever she made mistakes. Additionally, it is reported that Riya’s husband, Sunil Dalai, attacked the minor with a beer bottle.The situation escalated, leading the minor to escape and inform a trusted acquaintance in Bhubaneswar about the abuse.

This acquaintance subsequently reported the incident to Childline. The Childline team promptly rescued the minor and informed the Chandrasekharpur Police Station, which registered a zero FIR and transferred the case to Bidanasi Police Station.

The case has been registered under sections 115(2) and 136(2) of the Indian Penal Code and section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. On Thursday morning, police officer Yubraj Swain visited Riya De’s flat and conducted an interrogation. Both Riya De and her husband were present and denied the allegations of abuse.

In addition to questioning the accused, the police are also interviewing neighbors to gather further information. It was revealed that two days before the minor escaped, a missing persons report was filed at Bidanasi Police Station by the actress.

Riya De has confirmed that she had reported the minor as missing to the police. The Bidanasi Police have corroborated this, stating that Riya filed the report two days prior.

The investigation team plans to visit Bhubaneswar on Friday to interview the complainant. Initial findings indicate that the helper, now 19 years old, had been working at Riya De’s house for approximately a year and a half.

However, it remains to be determined if she was a minor at the time the alleged abuse began, pending further investigation. The State Child Protection Commission has intervened in the case, issuing notices to Riya De and seeking a report from the Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

Reports have also been requested from the District Child Protection Officer and the District Labor Officer, with a submission deadline of July 25.As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the severity and timeline of the alleged abuse.