From Bhupen Goswam
GUWAHATI : Assam Police busts sex racket in Guwahati; connection in this case one Hotel manager has been arrested. Police headquarter’s official source said today that 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. Analysis revealed connected mobile numbers with other details and preliminary enquiries 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 05-08-21 and investigation begun into the matter.
Technical analysis led the Crime Branch to discover the complicity of one Nayanmoni Patowary, Manager of Hotel Minerva, Panbazar in running the racket. The person was picked up on 05-08-21 itself. Startling facts came to light through the questioning of Patowary, who revealed that one Saneep Kumar @ Mukul Bhardwaj @ Bambam was the main kingpin of the racket. It was also learnt that this Mukul Bhardwaj was running the prostitution racket along with his wife, one Diya Sarmah @ Junaki Begum. The culprits 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 @ Bambam @ Saneep Kumar in Jiyabharali Apartment. In this process all the accused got commissions.
The Crime Branch team apprehended Diya Sarmah @ Junaki Begum from Patharquari under Noonmati PS on 06/08/21. Mukul Bhardwaj was still at large and his exact whereabouts were not known. Even his wife claimed not to know his current whereabouts and address. Technical analysis of mobile numbers used by the main kingpin Mukul Bharadwaj revealed several addresses ranging from Delhi to Bihar to Maharashtra. The 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 dispatched to Lakhisarai and they were successful in nabbing the accused on 08/08/21 from there. Preliminary on the spot technical analysis and questioning revealed that the said 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.
