Team Herald
Panjim: The Crime Branch of police has attached vehicles of North Goa based taxi drivers who were allegedly involved into the escort website-based prostitution case. Investigations revealed that the taxi drivers were using these vehicles to transport clients and female victims for prostitution activities.
The drivers namely Imam Sutar from Paliem, Bardez, Umesh Bagli from Reis Mangos, Betim, Zeeshan Ali Sheikh, Morod, Mapusa were earlier questioned regarding their involvement or knowledge of the illegal activities. Two vehicles Ethios Liva bearing reg No GA03P 8277 and Maruti Ertiga bearing Reg No GA03W8377 have been attached.
Police sources revealed that G-Pay transactions of Rs 80 lakh were done through the bank accounts of the accused allegedly at the behest Vijay (Rahul), Sumit (Arush) and Alisha (Poonam) who are on the run and yet to be traced by the Crime Branch. Investigations reveal that the arrested accused faciliated these deals through the drivers on a commission basis.
Police sources on condition of anonymity stated that the entire show was run by Sumit and Vijay who apparently are the main players in the sex trade allegedly in connivance with the help of a police constable from the area. While the drivers are arrested, the main accused or partners in crime are still having a field day.
Investigations revealed that the accused facilitated these services by fixing deals, with customers making payments via cash, Google Pay, or the Paytm mobile application. The accused earned commissions for their involvement.
The investigation is ongoing to identify additional individuals involved in the case and the crime branch will continue in its drive to arrest the accused person involved in this crime of all these escort websites.
The Crime Branch had earlier arrested four accused persons namely Syed Usman, 54, from Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, Mohammad Mohebbulla, age 30, from Gurgaon, Andhra Pradesh, Yogesh Kumar, age 42, from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Subash Pradhan, native of Orissa and presently residing in rental accommodation at Nerul who had been booked in Crime Branch case.
The accused were operating an escort website and had uploaded obscene photographs of women. They also provided a contact number on the website, which was used by customers. Upon confirmation from customers, the accused coordinated with other agents to finalize transactions.
However, there police investigation remains completely silent on the alleged involvement of the Police Constable who is reportedly involved in the entire racket and is said to have been running it from rental rooms owned by his wife.
"Why is the Department shielding controversial cops who even when there are serious allegations against a constable," said a senior cop speaking on condition of anonymity and added that the name of the police force is sullied because of such black sheep in the force. "
The police however stated that there is ongoing investigation to identify additional individuals involved in the case and added that the Crime Branch would continue to hunt for the other accused.