Rs 500 trap, 1:40 am missed call: How undercover cops busted Manali sex racket

Describing the act of inducing a person to become a sex worker as “the worst degradation of humanity”, the high court recently rejected the bail plea of the man accused of pushing women into prostitution. The court said releasing the accused could encourage similar offences and harm society.

Justice Rakesh Kainthla said in the August 19 order, “Even if girls were carrying out the activities with their consent, based on the inducement provided by the petitioner, the offence would be made out. The age gap between the petitioner and the victims cannot rule out the possibility of the inducement by the petitioner.”

The order added, “Inducing a person to become a sex worker for getting money is the worst degradation of humanity and objectifies the human body. Releasing the petitioner on bail would encourage other persons to do so and would harm society.

Justice Rakesh Kainthla said that even if girls were carrying out the activities with their consent, based on the inducement provided by the man, the offence would be made out.

Age gap versus marked notes

The accused man had sought bail in the FIR registered at Manali Police Station under sections 143 and 143(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with trafficking, and sections 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, which penalise living on the earnings from prostitution and inducing or forcing a person into prostitution.

Advocate Anchal Sharma, appearing for the accused, argued that he was innocent and was falsely implicated. She added that there was no material to connect him to the crime. The counsel submitted that there was a huge age gap between him and the survivors, which made it highly improbable that he had induced the women to enter into prostitution, and prayed that the man be released on bail. 

Deputy advocate general Prashant Sen submitted that the accused had brought the women to Manali on the pretext of work and forced them into prostitution. He argued that the accused lived on the earnings from prostitution, which was evident from the recovery of the marked currency note. 

The counsel submitted that the man would commit a similar offence if released on bail, and prayed that the bail plea be dismissed.

Bail denied

The court rejected the man’s argument that the women, being adults, could not be induced into prostitution, and held that the offence would be made out even if the activities were being carried out with their consent, based on the inducement provided by the man. The age gap between him and the women could not rule out the possibility of inducement by the accused, it held.

The court emphasised that the girls would be unable to make a free and fair disclosure if the accused was released, and stated that he could not be released on bail to ensure a fair trial. It also noted that the offence under Section 143(3) was punishable with life imprisonment, making the nature of the offence heinous, and denied bail. The court also noted that the man had not filed the chargesheet to demonstrate that there was any delay on the part of the prosecution.