Buying minors for prostitution: Woman jailed for 7 yrs

New Delhi, Aug 26: A woman has been sent to jail for seven years by a Delhi court for buying two minor girls for prostitution and abetting their rapes.

Additional Sessions Judge T R Naval sentenced 30-year-old Pooja to seven years rigorous imprisonment for the crime, saying it has been proved that she brought the minors for the purpose of prostitution, wrongfully confined them and also abetted other persons to forcefully have sexual intercourse with the girls.

"This court has come to the conclusion that entire evidence has proved that accused Pooja committed offence of buying minors for the purpose of prostitution, offence of wrongfully concealing and confining prosecutrix No. 1 and 2 (victims) and other girls after kidnapping them with the purpose to use them for the purpose of prostitution.

"Therefore, it is a bound duty of this court to hold accused no.3 (Pooja) guilty and convict her," the court said.

The judge said it has been proved that she used to present the girls to many customers, who used to pay her for the purpose of physical relations. The Court imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Pooja and said that Rs 5,000 each be given to the two victims and that they will also be entitled for other compensation as per law.

Out of the two accused, Meena was declared a proclaimed offender and the court said the evidence placed on record will be read against her. Another accused Mohd Saleem was earlier convicted by the court after he had confessed his guilt.

According to the prosecution, the police conducted a raid at a house in Laxmi Nagar and at a brothel in G B Road here in April 2004 and the two girls were rescued. The girls told the police that they were kidnapped by the accused persons after being given a sedatives-laced drink.

PTI