In a significant operation, Thane district police have unraveled a high-profile sex racket, bringing to light the involvement of a film producer in the illicit trade. The crackdown sheds light on the distressing trend of actresses being coerced into prostitution under false promises of film and web series opportunities.
Acting on secret information, law enforcement, in collaboration with the Prevention of Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC), conducted a raid on a hotel in Bhayander town, posing as a film production setup. The operation led to the rescue of four women and the apprehension of film producer Solomon Ratnamayya Narakanthelu (55) and his associate Chandraraj alias Michel David.
The accused were booked under IPC Section 370 (2) (3) for trafficking and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). Senior Police Inspector Sameer Ahirrao revealed that the raid exposed a sophisticated sex racket operating in a luxurious hotel.
During the investigation, the accused confessed that the financial strain caused by the lockdown compelled them to venture into the prostitution business. Unemployed film actresses, facing dire financial circumstances, succumbed to the allure of the illicit trade.
These actresses, connected to prominent sex racket agents in Mumbai, chose Thane for their operations, believing it to be a less scrutinized area by the police. The modus operandi involved demanding substantial sums from customers for one-night services, capitalizing on the surge in semi-pornographic film shoots.
This revelation echoes a similar incident in November last year, where a 17-year-old woman from Malad, Mumbai, orchestrated a sex racket. Victims from Bihar and Nepal, lured to Mumbai in search of work, were rescued by the police in a raid on a hotel in Vashi.
