The statement given by Roma Bhatia to the police that “it was her mother who put chilli powder in Sonu’s genitals” has introduced a new twist in the abuse and alleged murder tale of the 10-year-old maid, found dead in the Gajaria household at Galactic Towers in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri.
Roma’s statement shifts the focus on to mother Madhu Gajaria’s complicity in the murder that has shaken this upmarket Andheri pocket. Roma, who lives in the 8th floor of the same building, is being named the prime accused in the abuse and alleged murder case. She had earlier told the police that she had put chilli powder in Sonu’s mouth and tied her when she found the girl using a lipstick in her parents’ bedroom.
Roma in her statement has not admitted that she killed Sonu. “I left her in the room and she was alive,” she said. When confronted, she said, “My mother was telling me the other day that she had put chilli powder in Sonu’s private parts some two days back.”
Additional Commissioner of Police Bipin Bihari told DNA that “Roma was left answerless after we asked her how the forensic experts and doctors found the presence of chilli powder. If the mother had done it two days back, it would have got washed away.”
Police believe that Roma could be sadistic. “Putting heavy metal and chilli powder into the genitals is inhuman,” said an investigating official.