Transgender among 3 acquitted in sex racket case
TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/20/2018 1:16:12 PM
National
Thane, July 20: Three persons, including a transgender, were acquitted on Thursday by the District and Sessions Court, giving them benefit of doubt in a sex racket case at Mira Road of the district.
District and Sessions Judge S P Godhalekar said the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the trio.
The acquitted included Sandeep Suresh Shirishekar Sandy (Transgender) (25), Anil Sharma (30) and Megha Kandane (24).
The Thane district police AHTC officials raided a premises at Bhayander in November, 2013 and caught the trio, along with seven girls, most of whom were minors.
According to police, the arrested had made a demand of Rs one lakh for the minor girls, who were forced into prostitution.
One of the victims was the real sister of the accused, who was running the racket, lead by the transgender.
Advocate Sushma Mishra, appearing for the accused, told the court that the entire version of police was fake and the trio were not at all involved in the 'so-called' racket. She also pointed out that police themselves have admitted to have used fake notes for the trap.
This itself was challenged by the counsel, who questioned as to why anyone should pay a hefty sum of Rs one lakh for the prostitutes and hence, the entire story by the police was cooked up, she alleged.
The court rejected the claim by the prosecution and acquitted the alleged accused