traffickers

sex

MCOCA

social security cell

crime branch

Sanjay Patil

SPI

While the state’s stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has till date kept an eagle eye on terrorists and ruthless goons, it has also now scaled up its crackdown on another front — human trafficking. In a first across the country, Pune police have in recent times initiated strict action against 24 such, who have been running and financing high-profilerackets. Since December last year all of them have been booked underto curb the unlawful activities of their organised crime syndicates, with 12 arrests made till date.The escalation of the authorities’ stand began around a year ago, and came from an understanding of the evolving modus operandi of prostitution rings over the last half decade. Now, a number of wellknown five-star hotels around the city are also being investigated to see if they have been complicit in these sex crimes.Police revealed that not so long ago, brothels were the mainstay of these businesses, and limited people were involved in them — today, with the exponential rise in human trafficking across metros, kingpins behind the game stay hidden on their lofty thrones.Instead, the raids conducted across brothels, hotels, or apartments usually end up leading to the arrest of the establishment owners, agents, and victims, even as the main organisers and financers remain safe, collecting funds and immovable properties.To crack down on this, state director general of police (DGP) Satish Mathur in July 2017 passed an order, stating that those involved in human trafficking would henceforth be booked under MCOCA. Following this, Pune police had started maintaining records of traffickers embroiled in high-profile sex rackets, with the crime branch’sfirst drafting a list of these individuals, then sending forth a proposal to Pune’s joint commissioner of police to invoke MCOCA against them.This list included the 24 traffickers, whose role was to procure girls from the state and outside, to earn from and sustain prostitution businesses.Senior police inspector of thesocial security cell,, told Mirror, “These 24 traffickers were involved in continuing unlawful activities as defined under MCOCA. There are a number of cases pending against them under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). The very purpose and objective of enacting MCOCA is to prevent such deeds. We found that syndicate crime members keep girls at row houses, highway hotels/houses or spots in high-profile city areas. We started raiding such places and maintaining meticulous records of people involved. Now, these gangs have changed their modus again and are running business in five-star hotels.”In a story headlined ‘Police flesh out modus operandi of sex rackets’, published on July 13, 2017, Mirror had highlighted how the syndicate operated like a well-oiled machinery from spacious homes in posh localities.Further, the same social security cell has now called for explanations from prominent five-star hotels, where cops have conducted raids under PITA. If their role is found to suspicious, action will soon be initiated against these top names in the hospitality business, too, revealed police.Patil further explained that the key medium of broadcast for these rackets is WhatsApp and other social media forums, where traffickers send photographs of girls to customers. They decide what hotel to conduct the ‘transaction’, and the entire amount is handed over to the girl at the location. Later, the agent takes half the share or whatever cut has been pre-decided.“They get girls from various locations on a specific package, and also send them to other cities as per demand,” the officer added.The list of 12 arrested traffickers includes Pratap Sahu, Lipun Sahu, Amrendra Sahu, Ajay Giri, Binku Chhetri, Shanti Giri, Ramesh Giri, Baburam Giri, Sagar Sing, Rahul Bhattacharya, Yuvraj Thapa and Krushna Sing. As many as 12 more are absconding, and have been named as Rahul Sharma, Prakash Chavla, Tonny, Suresh Khanal, Pintu Morish, Vijay Sing, Mahendra Gode, Deepak Sing, Kumar, Shiva Chowdhry, Suraj and Ganesh Langhda.An oft-repeated name in these circles, Kalyani Deshpande, has also recently been booked under MCOCA, and is known as the leader of an organised crime syndicate running sex rackets in the city for several years. In the last decade, 15 charge sheets under PITA have been filed against her.Some absconders have also already appealed in the High Court against orders to charge them under MCOCA.The Act in question gives investigating agencies power to hold an accused in custody for 30 days rather than the usual 14 days. They also get 180 days to file a charge sheet.█ We began raiding various places and maintaining meticulous records of people involved in sex rackets. These gangs have changed their modus operandi again and are running business in five-star hotels