TV actress,agent held in prostitution racket

Senior inspector Bhanupratap Barge,who headed the team that nabbed the duo,said,“Another TV actress,who has done small roles in Hindi TV serials,had also come with them. She,too,was picked up but we had to release her as there were not enough proof to establish her involvement. We let her off after recording her statement.”

The actress and the agent were arrested based on a tip-off. Barge said,“We got Panvar’s phone number and laid down a trap at a five-star hotel through a decoy customer. Panvar told the customer that they would charge Rs 1.5 lakh,of which

Rs 60,000 would be his commission. Panvar asked for two rooms to be booked in the hotel and that he would come with three women.”

The actress told the police that she got in touch with Panvar during an audition for a TV serial. “She said she got into prostitution after that,” he said.

The two have been charged under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. The two were produced before the court on Sunday. While the actress was granted bail,Panvar was remanded in police custody till March 7.

The police team that carried out the operation comprised API Vimal Bidve,constables Datta Jadhav,Ashok Takalkar,Ajit Dhumal and Krishna Machare.