Thane court acquits 26-year-old woman in trafficking, prostitution case; prosecution fails to prove charges

THANE: A 26-year-old woman, who was charged with child trafficking and running a prostitution racket, has been acquitted by a Thane court, which observed that the prosecution failed to prove she had called the alleged victims for the flesh trade. Special Judge (for POCSO Act cases) SP Agarwal, in the order dated April 17, also noted that the prosecution could not establish the alleged decoy trap or the minor status of one of the alleged victims, accordingt on news agency PTI. According to the prosecution, the Nayanagar police had laid a trap near Mira Road station in Thane district on April 8, 2021, based on “secret information” that a woman was supplying females for prostitution. A decoy customer was used to fix a deal, after which the accused was arrested and three “victims”, including a 17-year-old girl, were rescued, the prosecution said. The accused was booked under charges of trafficking and other offences under the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. However, the court found gaps in the prosecution’s case. It noted that although the police claimed a call was made to the accused on a speakerphone to arrange the transaction, no recording or electronic evidence of the conversation was produced.

"The prosecution has not produced any documentary or electronic evidence proving such a phone call between the bogus customer and the accused...It was possible for the prosecution to give electronic evidence from both mobiles, but the prosecution has failed to do so," it said. The alleged victims also did not support the trafficking allegation in their statements. One of them said she was told she was being taken for “event work” in Navi Mumbai with a promised payment of Rs 15,000.

Another said she was offered the “job of a PRO,” the court observed. The court further noted that none of the victims stated that they had come to the spot for prostitution. The prosecution also failed to prove the minor status of one of the victims beyond reasonable doubt, the court said while acquitting the accused.