Bangalore:
City Crime Branch officials were taken on a wild goose chase on Sunday while investigating a case of kidnapping, involving 41-year-old accountant Pravesh Kumar's wife and daughter.
Kumar informed a reporter that his ex-boss Mangilal Jain Chhajar (71), owner of Mahapragya Silks at Chickpet, had kidnapped his wife and daughter. He further alleged that his 35-year-old wife, Meera Kumari and 17-year-old daughter, Preeti Kumari were having an affair with Mangilal.
Kumar produced a copy of the harassment complaint he had lodged against his wife and daughter before they were kidnapped. He also alleged that his ex-boss ran a prostitution racket in the city by kidnapping city-based women and forcing them into the trade.
MiD DAY approached the anti-human trafficking cell of the CCB, which was inaugurated three days ago.
Eight CCB officials directed by R Lakshman, ACP (Women and Narcotic wing), contacted their sources and immediately fanned out to the locations identified by Kumar as alleged prostitution hotspots run by Mangilal.
During the raid, police discovered that the locked rooms contained packed clothes.
After questioning a few employees of Mangilal, the team headed to the merchant's house at Gandhinagar. Mangilal denied all allegations and claimed to have been Kumar's well-wisher.
"We gave him food and shelter and he has backstabbed us with these false allegations. He filed an FIR against me and we have presented our truth before officials of the Sanjay Nagar police station.
I have never seen his wife or his daughter before. He was sacked because of poor conduct and bad behaviour," claimed Mangilal.
The investigating team then headed to the Sanjay Nagar police station to enquire on what basis the kidnap FIR was filed.
"Based on a petition filed by Kumar at the then Police Commissioner, Shankar Bidari's office on March 14, 2011, the Sanjay Nagar police filed a complaint of kidnap and assault under various sections of the IPC against Kumar's wife and daughter," said an official.
The police tried to locate Kumar's wife and daughter, but realised that they had taken their belongings from their Ashwath Nagar house and were absconding. They were later located through Meera's workplace in Ganga Nagar.
During the enquiry, they said that Kumar had been mentally and physically harassing them.
Meera said that he did not allow his daughter to appear for her class 12 examinations at the Jalahalli Air Force School and she had to be accompanied by an NGO worker and a constable to write her exam.
We recorded their statements and provided them protection, claimed the official.
Kumar continued with his story saying, "My wife and daughter have had affairs with many men. They have stolen my belongings and disappeared and I have to suffer because my wife wants to share my boss's bed."
The CCB claim that they witness at least six such cases on a daily basis.
"This is the first time someone has taken, not only the CCB, but also the police commissioner, the home secretary and the chief minister for a ride. Even the CM's office has written a letter to the police station to take action. But after a day of investigation we nailed his lies," Lakshman said.
The team headed by Anand Kabburi claimed that they are planning to issue him a strict warning. If the problem persists, a complaint will be lodged under Section 186 (lodging false complaint and misleading police officials) against Kumar.
Kumar informed a reporter that his ex-boss Mangilal Jain Chhajar (71), owner of Mahapragya Silks at Chickpet, had kidnapped his wife and daughter. He further alleged that his 35-year-old wife, Meera Kumari and 17-year-old daughter, Preeti Kumari were having an affair with Mangilal.
Kumar produced a copy of the harassment complaint he had lodged against his wife and daughter before they were kidnapped. He also alleged that his ex-boss ran a prostitution racket in the city by kidnapping city-based women and forcing them into the trade.
MiD DAY approached the anti-human trafficking cell of the CCB, which was inaugurated three days ago.
Eight CCB officials directed by R Lakshman, ACP (Women and Narcotic wing), contacted their sources and immediately fanned out to the locations identified by Kumar as alleged prostitution hotspots run by Mangilal.
During the raid, police discovered that the locked rooms contained packed clothes.
After questioning a few employees of Mangilal, the team headed to the merchant's house at Gandhinagar. Mangilal denied all allegations and claimed to have been Kumar's well-wisher.
"We gave him food and shelter and he has backstabbed us with these false allegations. He filed an FIR against me and we have presented our truth before officials of the Sanjay Nagar police station.
I have never seen his wife or his daughter before. He was sacked because of poor conduct and bad behaviour," claimed Mangilal.
The investigating team then headed to the Sanjay Nagar police station to enquire on what basis the kidnap FIR was filed.
"Based on a petition filed by Kumar at the then Police Commissioner, Shankar Bidari's office on March 14, 2011, the Sanjay Nagar police filed a complaint of kidnap and assault under various sections of the IPC against Kumar's wife and daughter," said an official.
The police tried to locate Kumar's wife and daughter, but realised that they had taken their belongings from their Ashwath Nagar house and were absconding. They were later located through Meera's workplace in Ganga Nagar.
During the enquiry, they said that Kumar had been mentally and physically harassing them.
Meera said that he did not allow his daughter to appear for her class 12 examinations at the Jalahalli Air Force School and she had to be accompanied by an NGO worker and a constable to write her exam.
We recorded their statements and provided them protection, claimed the official.
Kumar continued with his story saying, "My wife and daughter have had affairs with many men. They have stolen my belongings and disappeared and I have to suffer because my wife wants to share my boss's bed."
The CCB claim that they witness at least six such cases on a daily basis.
"This is the first time someone has taken, not only the CCB, but also the police commissioner, the home secretary and the chief minister for a ride. Even the CM's office has written a letter to the police station to take action. But after a day of investigation we nailed his lies," Lakshman said.
The team headed by Anand Kabburi claimed that they are planning to issue him a strict warning. If the problem persists, a complaint will be lodged under Section 186 (lodging false complaint and misleading police officials) against Kumar.
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