Manager of Saira and Afaq’s brothel held

Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested a 38-year-old man under charges of the MCOCA in continuation of the human trafficking racket busted by the police in August this year. A senior investigator shared that the accused, Damodar Pandey, was the manager of Kotha no 64 which was owned by the couple Saira Begum and Afaq Hussain. The couple along with six others were arrested by the Crime Branch in August this year. 

A senior Crime Branch official said: “In order to curb the ghastly activities of the criminal syndicate of human trafficking and prostitution operating at GB Road, Crime Branch had launched massive action and had invoked provisions of MCOCA against them for the first time ever.” 

“Investigation in the trafficking racket led us to the information that there are other members of the trafficking racket who are still on the run. We were keeping technical surveillance on them. Based on a tip-off which we received, on October 18, we laid a trap near the NPL Parade ground in Kingsway Camp and arrested Damodar Pandey,” added the official.

“During sustained interrogation, Pandey disclosed that since he is a native of Nepal, he used to supply girls (victims) from his village and neighbouring villages to Delhi. Pandey revealed that since he used to manage the kotha, on an average, he earned Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000 per month. Under him, he maintained four to five nayikas and 10-15 women who looked after the victims,” shared an officer, privy to the investigation.

“A manager, Pandey used to manage the finances of the couple and looked after all the dealings of Kotha No 64 owned by Afaq Hussain and Saira Begum. He used to collect money from the customers and give it to Afaq Hussain and Saira Begum. He used to manage all the day-to-day activities of the kotha and kept watch on the activities of the nayikas and the victims,” said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch.

Damodar further disclosed that he came to Delhi in 2006 and came in contact with the kingpins through his elder brother, Ramesh Pandey, who used to work as a driver for the couple and one Ramu. Further investigation is underway.