Maharashtra: Three including film producer arrested for sex racket

The Deputy Commissioner of Police Crime Dr. Mahesh Patil told this correspondent that the police had a tip off that the film producer was running a sex racket and forced women into the flesh trade under the garb of giving them opportunity in his films.

The racket was being operated from the premises of a housing complex, Mira Road in Thane district since years.

The victims were promised roles in pictures and were called for shooting and acting and forced into flesh trade to the needy customers.

The police said that the main accused in the crime was Khanayalal Balchandani who was also assisted by one Vanita Ingle who acted as an agent.

The police arranged a decoy and raided the premises in the housing complex and arrested the trio including the producer and the woman besides one Paramanand Balchandani and also seized the cash that was being exchanged for the deal.

They allowed the rooms to be used as a brothel to the needy customers and also facilitated the victims to the customers at cost.

The police also rescued two women in the process of the raids.

Offences under sections 370 rw 34 of the IPC and also sections 3,4 and 5 of the PITA Act has been registered against the trio with the Mira Road police station he said.