Cops' massage parlour turns sticky biz

Yet again, the keepers of law are in news for the wrong reasons. Two Delhi police constables — one posted at the Mahendra Park police
station in northwest Delhi and the other serving a suspension — were arrested for allegedly running an illegal massage parlour.

Their advertisements in leading newspapers were straight — "those wishing to get a massage from pretty young faces" should just contact them. Once the customers responded, the accused would extort money from them. This, say investigators, was done in an organized fashion — the accused cops threatened to book the clients for "molesting underage girls." They sometimes even threatened them saying their "errant lifestyle" would be reported to their parents and family.

The arrests were made by the anti-extortion cell of the crime branch after the two accused, along with one of their accomplices, looted a sub-inspector of the crime branch after he posed as a decoy customer. The crime branch said more arrests are likely. "Some other men and a few girls have also been found to be involved with the gang. We have identified them and arrests will follow soon," said an investigating officer.

The accused cops — constable Rann Singh and constable Shaji — were first brought under scrutiny after it was revealed that certain cops were regularly promoting parlours through paid advertisements. Their friend, Indraraj, has also been arrested.

"The accused provided a number in the ad and once a customer called, the cops would ask him to reach near Vishal Cinema at Rajouri Garden in west Delhi. There, the accused would ask him to walk to a nearby car where they claimed a girl was waiting. The would be pushed inside the car and the threats followed," said an officer.

"We believe the duo, along with their accomplices, have looted several lakhs, including debit cards. On November 21, our decoy cop set up the meeting. The accused first asked him to reach Pankha Road crossing where he would meet the 17-year-old girl who will massage him. Later, they asked him to come to Vishal Cinema. Plainclothes sleuths arrested them once they had looted our SI of Rs 5,000 and his card.
These notes were marked with chemicals and will be produced in court," added another sleuth. However, two of the accused managed to flee along with the car used in the crime.

While Shaji resides at the police quarters at Uttam Nagar, Singh resides at Patel Garden near Uttam Nagar. "We will investigate if they were part of a bigger gang," said a crime branch officer.