MUMBAI: A couple was arrested for allegedly trying to sell the wife’s 12-year-old sister for Rs 70,000. Following a tip-off, a special squad, formed by additional commissioner of police Vishwas Nangre-Patil and led by encounter specialist Daya Nayak, arrested Mohammad Darzi and his wife Samina accepting an advance of Rs 5,000 outside Andheri (W) railway station on Monday. Mohammad Idreshi, 22, who was the couple’s agent, has also been arrested.
On March 24, members of the NGO, Indian Rescue Nation, posing as businessmen from south India scouting for teenaged girls, got in touch with Idreshi. While Idreshi contacted Darzi and Samina, the NGO tipped off the police and helped them set a trap. The couple brought the 12-year-old girl to Mumbai from her hometown in West Bengal. Samina lied to her parents that she would admit her sister in a school in Mumbai and also find her a job.
“Around 9pm on Monday, the NGO members met Idreshi outside Andheri station. Idreshi showed them a picture of Samina’s sister. After they okayed the ‘deal’, Idreshi demanded an advance of Rs 5,000,” a police officer said. Idreshi even advised the “clients” to take the girl to Pune as it was less risky there compared to Mumbai. When Darzi and Samina brought the girl at 11.45pm, the police arrested them. Darzi, Samina and Idreshi were booked for kidnapping and selling the girl for prostitution. They have been remanded in police custody till April 4.
