Eight people, including two couples, have been arrested for allegedly trafficking a 14-year-old girl from Haryana to Mumbai and forcing her into the sex trade, the Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar (MBVV) police said on Saturday, reported PTI.
The male accused also allegedly raped the victim multiple times, said the police, reported the news agency.
According to police, the case came to light during an investigation into a kidnapping complaint filed by one of the accused, Sanjay Gupta, a security guard.
The case began on March 3 when Gupta approached the Navghar police station in Bhayander and filed a missing person's complaint. He told police that the teenager had disappeared after leaving home to buy items for Holi celebrations and claimed she may have been kidnapped.
During the investigation, police received a tipoff and traced the girl to Bhayander, where she was rescued.
Survivor reveals abuse after rescue
However, a breakthrough came when a woman officer spoke to the teenager in a safe environment, said the police.
The girl revealed that Gupta was not her relative and had deceived her family. She further alleged that she had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by several accused, including Gupta. The abuse eventually prompted the teenager to flee from those holding her, as per the news agency.
According to police, the victim was brought from Ambala in Haryana to Mumbai by Gupta. He had allegedly convinced the girl's family that he would take care of her and support her education. However, instead of providing her with schooling, he allegedly forced her into prostitution.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Chavan said Gupta falsely presented himself as the girl's guardian and gained the trust of her relatives before bringing her to the city.
Senior Police Inspector Mukund Yadav said the investigation revealed that the girl had allegedly been sold for Rs 50,000 as part of the trafficking network. "While probing the initial kidnapping case, we stumbled upon this deep-rooted sex racket," Yadav said, reported PTI.
Legal action and further probe
The eight accused including two women have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for offences including kidnapping, rape and sexual exploitation, along with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Police said the investigation into the alleged trafficking network is ongoing.
(With PTI Inputs)
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