Pune: Model held for prostitution

In yet another high-profile prostitution racket,the Social Security Cell of Pune police crime branch on Saturday arrested a 22-year-old south Indian model and her step-brother who acted as her agent.

A team led by senior inspector Bhanupratap Barge was working on a tip-off by constable Ashok Takalkars informants that a 32-year-old agent,Rajkumar Mariathasan,has been bringing models and aspiring actresses to various hotels in Pune and Mumbai for prostitution. Around 10 pm on Saturday,we arrested a 22-year-old woman,Caroline Mariathasan along with Rajkumar,who is her step-brother,from a five-star hotel in Pune, Barge said.

Investigations revealed that Caroline is a graduate and had been modelling for jewellery and garments in south India. Caroline has told us that her father,Ranjit,runs a photo studio in Mumbai. We have made her father an accused in the case and have launched a search for him, Barge said.

Caroline told us that she was doing this as she needed money, he added.