TV actress accused of child abuse gets bail

MUMBAI: A local court here on Saturday granted bail to Mumbai-based TV actress Urvashi Dhanorkar, who has been booked under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Child Labour Act, for allegedly physically abusing her 10-year-old housemaid Rameshwari.

She was produced before the Bandra Holiday Court.

Dhanorkar's lawyer, Nitin S Satpute, contended the black marks and swelling on the child's face were created by bee stings and the burn scars on her forearms were caused by boiling water fallen on her.

"Under the Juvenile Act, my client was arrested. She was produced in the court. Police asked for her remand but the court rejected the police plea and granted her judicial custody. Later, the court granted her bail," said Satpute.

The actress was arrested on Saturday morning after medical reports confirmed that Rameshwari was physically abused.

Rameshwari was allegedly punched in her eye and was left with black and bruised marks, besides burns on her forearms.

The girl was rescued by her neighbours on Friday (Aug 21) night, when she was playing the children of her employer in the garden.

"When I saw this child her hands were burnt, eyes were red. She was scared. Residents gathered and took her to hospital. After examining, the doctor said it was marks of beating up. Secondly, according to the child labour (laws), hiring any child as a domestic help is a crime. We phoned police and it came for our help," said Bindu Bhosle, Chairperson of Mahan Shakti a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) and neighbour of Rameshwari.