Came for ‘child care’ but was made a maid: IIM-B professor and wife charged under SC/ST Act in Kuki girl torture case

The FIR, filed on May 6 at the Mico Layout police station, initially only charged the case under sections 115(2) and 127(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case has now been transferred to the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE), which is expected to take strict action against the accused couple.

Published on: June 11, 2026

Bengaluru—The case of IIM Bangalore professor Amar Sapra and his wife Anshu Sapra, accused of prolonged torture of a 25-year-old Kuki nanny, has taken a serious turn. The FIR lodged at the Mico Layout police station on May 6th now includes provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Previously, the case was only registered under sections 115(2) and 127(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case has now been transferred to the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE), which is expected to take strict action against the accused couple.

It is noteworthy that the victim filed a report at the Mico Layout police station on May 6th, stating that IIM-B professor Amar Sapra and his wife Anshu Sapra kept her hungry and thirsty, denied her adequate food, and subjected her to inhumane torture when she was unable to work due to illness. The abuse reached its peak on May 4th when she suffered from kidney stone pain, but instead of providing her with medication, the couple locked her in a room, starving and thirsty. She managed to escape their home and reached the home of a neighboring professor, where she was given food and allowed to speak to her mother in Manipur. Her mother sought help from local members of the Kuki Students’ Organization, leading to community action and the victim’s ordeal.

‘My job was just childcare’

The victim, Naina (name changed), a resident of Churachandpur district in Manipur, had been working as a nanny-cum-housekeeper at Professor Amar Sapra’s residence on Bannerghatta Road, near the IIM Bengaluru campus, for the past six years. She came to Bengaluru through a placement agency in 2019 to work as a babysitter for the professor’s family. She is the eldest child and the sole earning member of her family. Naina told The Mooknayak, “When discussing the terms of the job, I was told that my job would be solely childcare. However, when I arrived, I was required to do household chores, including washing dishes and cleaning the house twice a day. My work hours were from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 18 hours, which is double the labor law mandated time. I was never paid for the additional nine hours. Even the agreed-upon salary was not paid in full.”

“I was made to live in a small room outside their house, without even drinking water. For the past five years, my movements were completely restricted. I was never given leave, not even on Sundays. When I fell ill, such as with a severe headache or diarrhea, I was allowed to rest for only 1-2 hours before being put back to work. Even if I got medicine from the campus doctor, the money was deducted from my salary or I had to buy it myself.”

Naina alleged that most of the torture was inflicted by Anshu Sapra. She would pull her hair, slap her, and call her derogatory terms like “crazy” and “idiot.” She was often starved until her work was complete. On one occasion, the employer couple’s minor son even physically assaulted her, but the employers did not stop him.

Naina said she hasn’t seen her family in over a year. “I went home last year when my father passed away. I haven’t seen my family since then.”

Mico Layout police issued two notices to Professor Amar Sapra and Anshu Sapra and called them to the police station to record their statements, but they did not appear both times.

ACP Nagaraj told The Mooknayak that SC/ST atrocity provisions have now been incorporated and the case has been transferred to the DCRE (Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement). The Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in Karnataka is a special police department that handles cases of atrocities and civil rights violations against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). There are 33 dedicated DCRE police stations across the state to ensure speedy and fair investigations.

ACP Nagaraj stated that a new investigating officer (IO) will now interrogate the accused couple. The victim is currently undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is suffering from severe mental trauma.

Initially, SC/ST provisions were not included in the FIR because the victim’s tribal certificate was unavailable. Later, after efforts by the KSOB, the certificate was issued from the Churachandpur District Magistrate’s office and sent to the police.

The victim is currently undergoing treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is going through severe mental trauma.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation Bengaluru (KSOB) continues to stand with the victim and strive for justice. Speaking to The Mooknayak, KSOB President Selalmuon Haokip said, “What is most concerning is that a prestigious institution like IIM Bengaluru, which professes inclusivity and social justice, is not taking any action against its faculty. We wrote to the director twice demanding immediate action and suspension, but received no response. This is highly condemnable and saddening.”

Despite the filing of an FIR and the issuance of a notice, no arrests have been made. IIM Bangalore has not reported taking any internal action against Professor Amar Sapra or issued an official statement.

The Mooknayak had earlier emailed IIM Bangalore Director Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Prof. Amar Sapra and Anshu Sapra to seek their views on the matter but received no response.

The inclusion of the SC/ST Atrocities Act has increased the gravity of the case. The Mooknayak is closely monitoring the case and will continue to provide updates on further investigations, arrests, and actions by IIM Bangalore.