Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police has unearthed a well-knit prostitution racket that was operating in a clandestine manner under the guise of a dance bar in Bhubaneswar. The racketeers were making extensive use of social media platforms including instant messaging applications like WhatsApp among others to operate.
The Commissionerate Police has intensified investigation after nine persons including five girls from West Bengal were arrested in a raid at a dance bar in Capital Police station area of Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
Sources said the racketeers used to book customers on WhatsApp after sending photos of girls and were charging Rs 2,000 to 20,000 for the escort services.
Once a deal was struck, the clients were also offered rooms in the lodge located on the same floor of the dance bar, informed sources.
Senior officials of Commisionerate Police informed that already steps are being taken to conduct a detailed verification of the dance bar that are operating sans licence in the city.
Besides, action would be taken against those dance bars which are violating the terms and conditions as stipulated in their licences.
"We are interrogating the owner and it is premature to say about the modus operandi of this particular racket. The raid was conducted on allegations of violation of terms under the licence. Investigation in this connection is underway," said Bhubaneswar DCP, Anup Sahoo.