Mumbai stars urge action after housemaid forced into labour

In a recent social‑media video, Mumbai‑based television personality Sobhna Seth and her husband Avinash Dwivedi demanded stronger enforcement against the exploitation of domestic workers. They recounted how Gudiya, their house help, disclosed that her sister had been detained in a Kharghar residence and compelled to work long hours despite a recent operation.

The sister was originally told she would only tend to pets but was soon tasked with cooking, cleaning, and other demanding chores. When she expressed a desire to leave, the agency allegedly barred her departure and hid her identity documents.

The couple collaborated with a local charitable organisation and members of the community to extract the woman from the house. She emerged with injuries, reportedly caused by a physical altercation during her escape.

Sobhna asserted that the Kharghar police failed to intervene in a timely manner, which could have prevented the escalation. Consequently, the couple registered a formal FIR at the Bangur Nagar police station, prompting authorities to collect evidence and proceed with the investigation.