Women are beaten with belts and ‘sexually abused’ in the backyard of a spice farm in Bihar

‘Sexual abuse’

Kanchan alleged that there was a “pattern” at the company, where top executives sexually harassed female employees. “It happened to many people.” She alleged that management knew she had evidence against the company, and arranged her “fake” marriage to the executive who raped her to ensure she would not speak out. There was no ceremony before the wedding, she alleged, adding that the executive further pressured her to mislead more people into joining the company.

In May last year, a case under the POCSO Act was registered against DBR workers at Raxaul police station in East Champaran after a woman from Dumka district of Jharkhand filed a complaint alleging that her 16-year-old daughter was lured to work, given drugs and sexually abused.

In three videos made by News laundryWomen claiming to have worked for DBR are being abused by alleged members of the company’s staff.

One of these videos features Tripti*, who also gave her statement to the police in the case filed by Kanchan.

Tripti, who belongs to the Manjhi Mahadalit community, was allegedly lured by a youth from her village in Chapra district to work for the company after her class 10 exams. She admitted to being beaten up but refused to comment further. Her mother claimed that she had returned home as she did not like the job. “We gave her a total of Rs 17,500 that the company had asked for,” she said.

Ranjeeta*, who also appears in one of the videos and testified before the police in Kanchan’s case, is from the Mahto Mahadalit community and a resident of Siwan district. She alleged that she was tricked into working for the company at a centre in Hajipur when she was in class 12.

In the video, the same executive arrested in Kanchan’s case allegedly grabbed Ranjeeta by her hair, slapped her and cursed her. “They gave us targets to include more people (in the company’s network). Because I didn’t meet them, they beat me. Not just me, they beat everyone. They treated us like animals.”

“They wouldn’t let me go for my grade 12 exams. They wouldn’t let me leave the room. We had to talk to family in front of them too.”

Asked about these videos, SP Dixit said the police were investigating the matter. “Whatever the angle, it will be investigated.”

Dixit and Mahto believe the company sells herbal products. The 50 former and current employees who News laundry claimed that none of them had to work for that department.

From Rs 1.7 crore to Rs 17.1 crore in one year

DBR was founded in May 2021 with only Manish Sinha as the director.

In 2021-22, the balance sheet filed with the ministry of corporate affairs suggested that the company’s turnover was Rs 1.7 crore. This turnover for the same financial year was shown as Rs 17.1 crore in the sheet filed the following year.

Similarly, the turnover in the financial statements for 2022-23 stands at Rs 11.37 crore, while in the annual report it stands at Rs 113.7 crore.

The company’s turnover increased exponentially, but salaries increased from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 9.4 lakh per annum compared to the previous year.

In 2021-22, the company reported a profit of around Rs 44,200, which rose to around Rs 4 lakh the following year. But according to the balance sheet, despite this profit, the company did not pay any tax in both the financial years.

Both balance sheets lacked specific data to fully explain the company’s expenses.

The company’s documents were signed by the CA on September 12, 2023 and by Manish Sinha on September 3, 2023.

When News laundry visited DBR’s office in Noida, Ashish Chauhan said that the sale of medicines “is not much”. Asked if the company could show us some medicines kept in the office, Chauhan refused. A female employee told us to leave the premises.

A questionnaire was emailed to Manish Sinha. This report will be updated when a response is received.

* Names have been changed to protect identities.