: Misuse of rented apartments for flesh trade and other immoral activities continue unabated in and around the city posing a challenge to police.
The latest incident was reported from Nedumbassery, where police busted an alleged sex racket earlier this month. Among the three arrested, Maneesh, the key accused, had been a history-sheeter with at least four similar cases against his name, including the Paravur sex scandal case.
They were arrested from a brand new studio apartment at Athani, which they had rented just a month ago. Though usually the apartment owner is also arraigned as an accused, in this case, the owner was spared after the police acquired a copy of the rent agreement.
V.K. Sankarankutty, president, Apartment Owners Apex Association, said the problem was widespread and cited a similar issue at a prominent apartment complex at Vyttila a few years ago.
“We have directed member associations to keep a copy of the ID proof of the tenants and the lease deed, which would go a long way in warding of such problems. But many building owners are not interested leaving room for recurrences of such incidents,” he said.
Police officials also pointed a figure at the apathy of building owners in complying with their directions to maintain a record of the ID proof of visitors, mounting CCTV cameras, and even posting trained persons at reception.
A police official who had charged about ten such cases said that police were equally at fault for not keeping a close watch over visitors and happenings at apartment complexes within their jurisdiction.
Insistence that raids in rented facilities should be conducted by an officer of the rank of DySP or above haven’t helped strict action either. “Police officers engaged in raids under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act more often than not are denied the protection for the action taken in good faith. Besides, the delay in trial and eventual conviction means that accused out on bail get on with their business. There is also a history of officers heading sex scandal cases ending up with their careers in tatters forcing even proactive officers to think twice,” the officer said.
