Bhayandar : The Anti-Human Trafficking Wing of the Thane (rural) police, along with their LCB counterparts, busted a sex racket operating from a ladies orchestra bar in Kashimira late on Friday night.
Following a tip-off that Night Lovers Bar used live orchestra band as a front to operate a prostitution racket, a decoy customer was sent there. The decoy confirmed information of the ‘pick-up’ service by striking a deal of Rs. 5,000 with the hotel staffers to spend a night with a waitress at a nearby lodge. Based on this information, a police team led by API Sachin Gavas and API Bangar swooped down on the bar at about 11:30 pm. While Sudhakar Shetty (48), the steward who doubled-up as pimp, has been held, seven girls were rescued and sent to a rehabilitation centre in Kandivali.
However, bar operator Sudhakar Lingayat and his two aides, Ravi and Harish who managed to evade the police dragnet, are still on the run.
The team comprised of police personnel Kamlakar Chaskar, Nilange, Surve, Kendre, Asawle, Chougule, Mestri, Patil and Bhere.
A case under relevant sections of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act has been registered against the accused.
Suresh Golani
