Thane: Court acquits woman in trafficking case

A 28-year-old woman was acquitted by a district court here accused of forcing two minor girls into prostitution. In his order last week, District Judge GP Shirsat said the prosecution failed to prove the charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act against the accused.

Additional public prosecutor Rekha Hirwale informed the court that on February 9, 2018, a police team raided a hotel in Thane city of Maharashtra and apprehended the alleged accused and two victims.

The victims, aged 15 and 17, were forced into prostitution by the accused, who are residents of Mira Road, Hirel alleged.

The judge said that according to one of the victim’s testimony, they had come to the hotel for lunch with the alleged accused and were taken into custody by the police. He said that the police are forcing the minors to force him against the woman who is his sister.

The victim did not make any complaint against the accused, the judge saw her acquitted.