Shelter Home Sexual Abuse: Good News India MD Moves HC For Bail

Cuttack: Managing Director of Good News India, Fayaz Rahman, who was arrested in connection with alleged sexual harassment of minor girls in a shelter home and religious conversion of the minor inmates by his NGO, has moved the Orissa High Court for regular bail.

The Dhenkanal Sadar Police had arrested Rahman on December 3 and taken him on a two-day remand following permission from Special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court. After the end of the remand period, police had produced him before the POCSO Court on December 5 and again taken him on a fresh remand of two days the following day and later sent him to Dhenkanal jail on December 7 after the court rejected his bail petition.

Meanwhile, Special POCSO on Tuesday had rejected the bail petition of Simanchal Nayak, the project director and branch manager of the shelter home of the Good News India in Dhenkanal. Though the counsel of Nayak prayed the court to allow bail to his client, the public prosecutor Suleman Khan argued that since the investigation against Nayak is underway, there is every possibility that he might influence the witnesses and destroy evidence if the court grants him bail. The court after hearing the matter, rejected Nayak’s bail petition.

Talking to mediapersons later, Nayak’s counsel said he will move the High Court to seek regular bail for his client.

The incident of alleged sexual abuse of minor girls at shelter home in Dhenkanal came to limelight after Nayak informed the media about the modus operandi of the Good News India.

Reports said Nayak had demanded the Good News India authority for a hike in his salary. But as the authority did not consider his demand, he had revealed the details to the media about the activity of the Good News India MD, saying the latter used to embrace and kiss the grown-up girls of the shelter home.

Later, acting on the media report, Child Protection Officer (CPO) Anuradha Goswami had lodged a complaint in Dhenkanal Sadar police station. Police later arrested Nayak on December 1 and then the assistant director of shelter home Udit Kumar Lima and the managing director Fayaz Rahman.