Crime Branch officers return from UP after victim’s father fails to show up at mentioned address; say priority now to trace him before other girls’ parents
Jitendra Thakur
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Continuing their investigation in the sensational Lokhandwala sex racket, officers of Mumbai Crime Branch (Unit IX), probing the case, have returned to the city after spending a week in Agra, trying to trace the father of the complainant.
The officers spent days staking out the Agra address the victim provided to collect a blood sample of the father for doing a DNA test. When the person in question failed to show up there, they had no option but to return.
The other Thakur
The racket was busted with the arrest of the four main accused — Jitendra Thakur (37), Vimal Thakur (47), Anju Thakur (43) and Poonam Thakur (45) — who told officers that the complainant had been taken from her father, one Sushil Thakur, according to them, who resides in Agra. He being their relative had willingly given her away to them, the four told Crime Branch officers.
The four gave the police the address in Agra, which was corroborated by the complainant along with his name. But when officers reached there, they found the house locked. And when no one turned up even after days, they decided to return.
Now, the complainant as well as the arrested accused will have to face questioning by the police after this failure to trace the other Thakur. Officers suspect that he was tipped off and, hence, managed to flee before their arrival.
The DNA clue
Crime Branch sources said their priority now is to trace the man and later the parents of the other girls rescued. Around 10 girls who were rescued from other flats in Oshiwara said they did not know who their parents are.
“A DNA test of the arrested accused and the man from Agra is very crucial to ascertain whose daughter the complainant is. We are in constant touch with the local police in Agra; once they trace him, he will be brought to Mumbai,” a source added.
Around two weeks back, the Crime Branch arrested the four in connection with what is now being considered as the city’s biggest sex racket, wherein at least 500 girls from across the country were allegedly pushed into flesh trade.
The racket was busted with the help of one of the victims, who managed to escape a few months back. It is believed that all of the girls were lured to the city with the promise of a better life.