PANAJI
In a setback to the prosecution, two persons charged with operating a high-profile prostitution racket are acquitted over four years after they were arrested by the Crime Branch.
The Additional Sessions Court’s verdict is attributed to the conspicuous absence of four rescued victims, one of whom hails from Bhutan, who failed to attend the Court trial despite being summoned repeatedly.
As per the prosecution, Ismail Hanabarkadabi and Nishant Kapoor were booked for running the illicit trade from a resort and subsequently arrested. The raiding team, also comprising an NGO, rescued four victims “ hailing from Bhutan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and lodged them in Protective Home. However, after their release from the shelter home, the women failed to turn up for Court trial, prompting the court to order acquitting the accused.
“In the absence of examination of the victims, it is difficult to hold the accused are guilty. Ingredients of section 370 (3) of Indian Penal Code are not proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they were living on the earnings of prostitution activities,” Additional Sessions Judge, Panaji (Fast Track Court “ 1) Shabnam Shaikh said while acquitting them of the offense under section 370 (3) (buying or disposing of any person as slave) of IPC and sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956.
The police had also failed to attach CCTV cameras of the raiding spot even as several other witnesses, attached mobile and cash were examined.
