Thane: Three held for pushing 20-year-old woman into prostitution

Three persons were arrested in Thane for allegedly pushing a 20-year-old girl into flesh trade, police said on Wednesday. 

The accused, Asha Salvi and Sanjay Kothawale, in December last year lured the girl, a resident of Kalwa's Takoli locality, by promising her lucrative earnings and allegedly forced her into sex business at Salvi's residence and in lodges, Kalwa Police Station inspector RB Jadhav said quoting a complaint filed by the girl on Monday. The duo also took the money earned by her to sustain their livelihood, the girl complained.

The third accused, identified as Raj alias Babu Sheikh, promised to marry her and maintained sexual relations with her as a result of which she became pregnant. He later went back on his promise and also forced her to indulge in prostitution, the girl further alleged in her complaint.

Based on the complaint, the three were arrested on Monday evening, the police officer said. The trio have been charged under sections 370-A (buying or disposing of any person as slave), 420 (cheating) rw 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC and also sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA).