High-Profile Sex Racket Busted: Film Producer Arrested in Thane District Operation

In recent times, a disturbing trend has emerged where actresses are coerced into prostitution, often enticed under the pretext of film and web series opportunities. Investigations have uncovered that some young women succumb to these situations due to financial struggles, while others face coercion and helplessness.

Thane district recently witnessed the exposure of a high-profile sex racket, shedding light on a film producer’s involvement in the illicit business. 

The police, acting on secret information, registered a case against the accused under IPC Section 370 (2) (3) for trafficking and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). Acting swiftly, law enforcement, in collaboration with the Prevention of Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC), conducted a raid on a hotel posing as a film production setup. Four women were rescued during the operation.

Senior Police Inspector Sameer Ahirrao provided insights, stating that the raid uncovered a sophisticated sex racket operating in a luxurious hotel in Bhayander town. 

Film producer Solomon Ratnamayya Narakanthelu (55) and his associate Chandraraj alias Michel David were apprehended. During the investigation, the accused revealed that the dire circumstances arising from the lockdown led them to venture into the prostitution business.

The arrested film actresses, facing unemployment during the lockdown, found themselves in financial distress, prompting their entry into the sex trade. 

These actresses had connections with prominent sex racket agents in Mumbai and chose Thane for their operations, considering the perceived lack of police scrutiny in the area.

The modus operandi of the racket involved demanding substantial sums from customers for one-night services, capitalizing on the surge in semi-pornographic film shoots. 

Notably, a similar sex racket was dismantled by the police in November last year, orchestrated by a 17-year-old woman from Malad, Mumbai. 

The victims, hailing from Bihar and Nepal, had ventured to Mumbai in search of work. In that instance, the police, acting on intelligence, raided a hotel in Vashi, rescuing four young women exploited in the prostitution trade. 

The accused in that case had been miserly in compensating the victims for their involvement in the illicit business.