In Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, a 15-year-old rape survivor was allegedly sent back into the home of the man accused of assaulting her. Reports state that the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) bypassed required rules and placed the girl in the care of the accused’s relatives, where she faced further sexual assaults.

The chain of events has led the Chhatarpur Police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against 10 individuals, including the CWC chairman, members, and senior district officials.

The ordeal started on January 16, 2025, when the teenager, a student from a village in Panna, went missing after leaving for school. Her family lodged a missing persons report, leading police to trace her a month later, on February 17, 2025, in Gurugram, Haryana, with the accused.

The alleged rapist was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on charges of rape and kidnapping. Initially, the case was filed at Panna Kotwali police station but later shifted to Jujhar Nagar in Chhatarpur district.

After her recovery, the girl was presented before the Panna Child Welfare Committee for shelter. She was first kept at the One Stop Center (OSC) in Panna. But the CWC reportedly ignored rules and sent her to the house of the accused’s sister-in-law, who is also related to the girl.

This placement turned disastrous. When the accused came out of jail, he allegedly raped the minor again. He has since been arrested once more.

Investigators said that the CWC never ordered a social investigation report from the Women and Child Development Department. This vital step under the Juvenile Justice Act is meant to ensure a child’s safety before making any placement decision.

Skipping this step, officers seemed to act in favour of the accused, exposing the survivor to repeated assaults.

Desperate for justice, the survivor’s family approached the district collector during a public hearing. The collector asked the CWC to reconsider its decision. To cover up their actions, officials quietly shifted the minor back to the OSC on April 29, 2025.

During counselling at the centre, the girl shared details of her repeated abuse. Rather than informing authorities, OSC staff and a senior district officer allegedly kept this information hidden, breaching the law.

The case became public after media reports, prompting action from Chhatarpur Police. Under the Additional Superintendent of Police’s watch, SDOP Naveen Dubey headed the probe that exposed a network of negligence and complicity.

"A crime has been registered against those who made the wrong decision of sending the minor rape victim to the house of the accused and those who hid it. The police are investigating the matter closely. The investigation also showed that the District Program Officer and the staff of the One Stop Center tried to suppress the case," Dubey confirmed.

An FIR has been lodged under several serious provisions.

  • CWC Chairman and Members – Booked under Section 17 of the POCSO Act for abetting the crime.

  • OSC Administrator and Counselor – Charged under Section 21 of the POCSO Act for failing to report abuse.

  • District Women and Child Development Officer – Charged under Section 21 of the POCSO Act, Section 4 of the SC/ST Act, and Sections 199 and 239 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for misusing authority and negligence.