Delhi: NGO ‘Love Commandos Owner Arrested For Confining, Extorting Money From Inter-Caste, Inter-Religion Couples
Image Credits: NDTV

Delhi: NGO ‘Love Commandos' Owner Arrested For Confining, Extorting Money From Inter-Caste, Inter-Religion Couples

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On January 31, the founder of popular ”Love Commandos” NGO Sanjoy Sachdev, who was once featured on actor Aamir Khan TV show Satyamev Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs) for helping inter-caste and inter-religion couples has been arrested for allegedly confining, intimidating and extorting money from couples, police said.

The NGO founded in 2010, provided safe houses to couples who had angered their families by marrying outside of their caste or religion came to limelight after it was featured on Amir Khan’s show. On Tuesday night a woman approached the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to complain against Sanjoy Sachdev. She claimed that the man extorted money, confined and intimidated the couple. Soon after that, the DCW approached the Delhi’s Paharganj police. According to the BBC, some of the couples alleged they were being held against their will at the NGO.

After a complaint by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), the Delhi police arrested Sachdev and four couples were rescued from his NGO. The Delhi police have registered a case against him.

While talking about the case the DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said that the DCW got to know about the matter after a team from the women’s panel inspected a shelter home run by the NGO. “DCW team inspected a shelter home run by NGO Love Commandos and rescued four couples from there yesterday who were illegally confined in inhumane conditions & huge sum of money was extorted from them. We called the police who have now filed an FIR in the matter and arrested the owner (sic),” she Twitted.


He forced them to work and asked for money

The Delhi police recorded the statement of the woman, her partner and three other couples who were living in the NGO’s shelter home. A senior police officer said, “The couples alleged their important documents were taken away and that they were intimidated, harassed and abused by Sachdev. They also claimed the NGO owner would consume liquor in their presence and even leave his dog behind them.”

The officer added that the accused used to force the couples to work and he also forced them to give money ranging from Rs. 15,000 to 20,000. According to the NDTV, the woman, who had approached the DCW, was staying at the NGO for close to a month.

The police said whenever the DCW received any case of inter-caste and religion couples, who is facing opposition from their families, the body used to send them to Love Commandos.


The Logical Indian Take

In Indian conservative families, relationships outside caste and faith are forbidden. This incident of NGO mistreating with the couples is quite saddening as this leaves the couple with no hope since this is where many of them turned to in dire circumstances. We urge the government to make safe space for the couples.

Also Read: Honour Killing: Parents Kill Daughter & Burn Her Body For Marrying Man From Another Caste

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Editor : Ridhima Gupta Gupta

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