A 52-year-old woman living in Gurugram’s upscale DLF Camellias has been arrested after a video allegedly showing her assaulting a domestic worker inside the apartment surfaced and spread widely on social media, police said.
The woman, identified by police as Ruchira Sachdeva, was taken into custody after authorities initiated action on the basis of the video. Police registered a first information report (FIR) under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful confinement.
The incident has drawn considerable attention because the footage appears to show the domestic worker being physically assaulted inside the kitchen of the luxury residential complex. Police are now examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the worker was subjected to similar treatment on earlier occasions.
Video brings alleged assault to police attention
According to investigators, the incident came to light after an approximately 90-second video was circulated on social media. The footage was reportedly recorded from a neighbouring apartment and showed events taking place inside the kitchen through a glass window.
Police said the woman can allegedly be seen repeatedly assaulting the domestic worker, including pulling her hair, grabbing her and pushing or shoving her inside the kitchen.
Authorities took suo motu cognisance of the footage and registered an FIR at the Sushant Lok police station. The initial case was registered against an unnamed woman before investigators identified the person allegedly seen in the video.
Police later identified the accused as Sachdeva, a resident of DLF Camellias in Sector 42, Gurugram.
Investigators said the video played an important role in establishing the identity of the woman because her face was clearly visible in the footage. Police subsequently visited the residential complex and questioned her before taking her into custody.
Incident reportedly followed a work-related dispute
Police said the accused told investigators that the incident took place on the night of July 24 and followed a dispute related to work.
The domestic worker, a 22-year-old woman from Nepal, had reportedly been employed at the residence for around two years. Police said she left the job a few days after the alleged assault and returned to Nepal on July 27.
Investigators are now attempting to establish the complete sequence of events leading up to and following the alleged assault. They are also examining whether the incident was an isolated occurrence or whether the domestic worker had allegedly faced similar treatment previously.
Police officials have stressed that the investigation is continuing and that further details will emerge after the statement of the domestic worker is recorded. 
Questions over confinement and access to phone
The investigation has also expanded beyond the alleged physical assault.
Investigators said preliminary information suggested that the domestic worker may not have been permitted to leave the residence freely or use a mobile phone. Police are examining these allegations as part of the wrongful-confinement aspect of the case.
Authorities have said they will need to establish the circumstances in which the worker lived and worked at the residence and determine whether any restrictions were imposed on her.
The investigation will also seek to establish whether the allegations of confinement are supported by evidence and whether they form part of the same sequence of events.
Document seeking no legal action under scrutiny
Another aspect being examined by investigators is a document that the accused couple allegedly produced before police. According to investigators familiar with the matter, the document was signed by the domestic worker and stated that she did not want legal action against her employers.
Police, however, are investigating whether the document was signed voluntarily.
Officials said it would have to be determined whether the domestic worker willingly signed the document or whether she was pressured or coerced into doing so. Her statement is therefore expected to be important in determining the circumstances surrounding the document and the alleged assault.
Domestic worker yet to file a complaint
Police said the domestic worker herself has not approached them with a formal complaint so far. She has reportedly returned to her hometown in Nepal.
Investigators have her details and are expected to contact her to record her statement. Her account could help police determine the nature and extent of the alleged assault, the circumstances in which she left the residence and whether she faced any restrictions while working there.
Police are also expected to examine other available evidence, including the video footage and information gathered during the visit to the residential complex.
Police investigating video and circumstances
Gurugram Police said the investigation is being conducted from multiple angles. Officials are examining the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the video while also trying to establish what happened before and after the incident.
The footage has provided investigators with an important lead, but police are continuing to verify the allegations through other evidence and witness accounts.
The case has also raised broader concerns about the treatment of domestic workers, particularly those who may be economically or socially vulnerable and dependent on employers for their livelihood and accommodation.
For now, the allegations remain subject to investigation. Police will determine the full circumstances of the case after recording the domestic worker’s statement and examining the available evidence.
The investigation is ongoing, and further legal action will depend on the findings of the authorities.