A senior official of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and his wife were arrested on Friday for allegedly torturing their 10-year-old domestic help by forcing the girl to starve and beating her regularly.

Manjuri Nayek, a resident of Rourkela in Orissa, used to work at the residence of Prakash Mishra, deputy general manager of RBI. Mishra resides in a third-floor flat of the RBI housing complex at 7, New Road in Alipore.

Late on Thursday night, Manjuri tried to escape by climbing down the rain-water pipe, but was intercepted by Dushmanata Kumar Nayek — the caretaker of the housing complex.

Nayek said that after seeing Manjuri’s condition, he called the other residents of the complex. On Friday morning, several senior officials of the RBI took Manjuri to SSKM Hospital. Later, they lodged a complaint with the Alipore police station.

In her statement, Manjuri told the police that she was left starving for three consecutive days.

“She was taken to SSKM hospital for a check-up. There are several injury marks on her face and body and she is traumatised. From the injury marks, it can be ascertained that she used to be beaten up regularly by the Mishra family,” said a senior officer of the Alipore police station. He added that Manjuri has been working in the Mishra household for the last six years.

Later on Friday, Mishra secured bailed. Supratim Sarkar, DC (South) said: “We have slapped three cases against him and are looking into the matter.”