A shocking case of a hotelier allegedly forcing his teenaged daughter into prostitution and then twice performing her marriage for money, came to light on Thursday, police said.
Based on a complaint lodged by the minor, police registered a criminal case of rape and child marriage against her father Akbar. Along with him, Kanchanbagh police detained a Sudan national, Mannan, with whom the minor’s marriage was held a week ago. The minor’s foster mother, aunt and two brokers were picked up late in the night and were being interrogated to ascertain facts, Santoshnagar ACP S. Sai Krishna said.
As per the girl’s complaint, Akbar and her aunt Niloufer got her married to a person living in Nagpur two years ago.
“Akbar allegedly collected Rs.2 lakh from that person for in return for his daughter’s hand,” the ACP said. However, the teenager returned to her parents’ house and eventually divorced him, charging that he had harassed her.
As per the complaint, the minor’s aunt and another woman took her to Mumbai and left her in the custody of an Arab Sheikh who forced her into prostitution. She alleged that her father and aunt sent her to Mumbai and left her with brothel operators, and strangers who sexually exploited her.
They collected Rs.50,000 from an NRI Jamal after leaving the minor in his custody for over eight days.
He also abused her sexually, police said.
On February 14, Akbar performed the minor’s marriage with the Sudan national.
The minor was sent to a hotel to spend time with the foreigner but she claimed that she escaped from there.
She sought the help of People’s Union for Civil Liberties State president Jaya Vindhyala, who met senior police officials and took the minor to Kanchanbagh police station.
Sections 376 and 370-A of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, Sections 4 and 5 of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act and Sections 9, 10 and 11 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act were invoked against the accused.
