Actress in flesh trade racket cools heels in Pune prison

In the absence of a surety, small-time television actress, Azharajaan, alias Zara Gulam Ahmed Shaikh, 21, who was arrested on Saturday by the city crime branch for her alleged involvement in the high-profile prostitution racket from Hotel Le Meridien, has been sent to Yerawada prison.

The spot boy, Neeraj Bhadani, 27, has been remanded in 3 days’ police custody. Zara and Neeraj were charged before the court of judicial magistrate (first class) under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act, 1986. Soon after Zara  was
remanded to magisterial custody, her lawyer filed a bail application; but since the court demanded local surety, she was sent to prison.

Assistant public prosecutor Pushpa Mane strongly argued for remanding the suspects in police custody for a week, as the police suspected the involvement of people in power in the racket.
Defence lawyer Dipak Thorat argued that his clients were falsely implicated and were ready to cooperate with the police.

The investigation had  so far revealed that Zara had acted in the TV serial, Kasauti Zindagi Ki, and the Bollywood movie Lamhaa.