Inter-State prostitution racket busted, 1 arrested in Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Over the last few days, the Social Media Cell of Police Commissionerate, Guwahati came across some Twitter handles and websites claiming to provide escort services in Guwahati and other cities of Assam.

A police official said, "Analysis revealed connected mobile numbers with other details. A preliminary inquiry revealed the involvement of an inter-State gang in the possible prostitution racket. Accordingly, Crime Branch PS Case No. 09/2021 U/S 292/371 IPC R/W Sec. 67/67 (A) IT Act was registered on August 5 and investigation began in the matter.

The technical analysis led the Crime Branch to discover the involvement of one Nayanmoni Patowary, manager of Hotel Minerva, Panbazar in running the racket. The person was picked up on August 5."

Patowary revealed that one Saneep Kumar alias Mukul Bhardwaj alias Bambam was the kingpin of the racket. Mukul Bhardwaj was running the prostitution racket along with his wife, Diya Sarmah alias Junaki Begum. "The accused used to communicate with the potential customers via social media or other online methods to fix the date, girls and rate. The sex racket operated in Hotel Minerva, Panbazar or in one of the rooms rented by Mukul Bhardwaj alias Bambam alias Saneep Kumar in an Apartment in Guwahati. In this process, all the accused got commissions," said the police official.

The Crime Branch team apprehended Diya Sarmah alias Junaki Begum from Patharquari under Noonmati PS on August 6. But Mukul Bhardwaj is still at large and his exact whereabouts are not known. Even his wife claimed not to know his whereabouts and address.

The police official further said that technical analysis of mobile numbers used by kingpin Mukul Bharadwaj revealed several addresses ranging from Delhi to Bihar to Maharashtra. The police team discovered the use of at least 10-15 mobile numbers by the accused.

"Consistent efforts through technical and human intelligence succeeded in narrowing the location of the accused down to Lakhisarai district of Bihar. A Crime Branch team was dispatched to Lakhisarai and they were successful in nabbing the accused on August 8 from there. Preliminary on-the-spot technical analysis and questioning revealed that Mukul Bharadwaj could be operating similar prostitution rackets in various other places also. The accused is being brought to Guwahati and will be thoroughly questioned after reaching here to unearth all aspects of the criminal activity being indulged in by the gang," added the police official.

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