Thane Court Clears Three Women in Prostitution Case Due to Insufficient Evidence

A special court in Thane, Maharashtra, has found insufficient evidence to convict three women accused of operating a prostitution racket. The court noted the absence of crucial testimony from a decoy customer and the minors involved as a significant factor in their decision.

The women, charged under multiple laws including the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, were alleged to have trafficked minors for prostitution. Despite police claims of discovering a 17-year-old girl at the scene and rescuing other minors, the court's decision was influenced by the lack of independent witness accounts and inadequate evidence, such as Call Detail Records missing exact locations.

The judge highlighted that the evidence presented, largely based on hearsay, was insufficient to substantiate the allegations, leading to the acquittal of Sharminbanu alias Zeenat Yunus Siddhiqui, Rizwana Javed Khan, and Afsana alias Muskan Anis Shaikh.

(With inputs from agencies.)