Bar girls arrested along with customers

Pune, Jan 23 (UNI) At least 20 people, including 11 bar girls, were arrested in the early hours today under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking act from a hotel at Wadgaon Maval, about 20 kms from here.

Superintendent of Police Viswas Nagre-Patil told UNI that following a tip-off, police conducted a raid and arrested 11 bar girls and nine customers.

The Golden Dream Hotel was closed after Maharashtra Government had revoked the licence of dance bars last year. Police said after the cancellation of the licence, the hotel owner applied for permission to run an orchestra, which was subsequently sanctioned by the authorities.

Senior Police Inspector of Yavat Police station B R Andhalkar said ''under the pretext of running an orchestra, the hotel owner was running a prostitution racket''. He said three girls are still absconding.

UNI