M. SURESH Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant/accused No.22 filed Crl.A.No.100065/2023 and appellants/accused Nos.20, 30 and 40 filed Crl.A.No.100402/2022 feeling aggrieved by the judgment of the trial Court on the file of District and Sessions Judge, Ballari, in S.C.No.151/2013 dtd. 17/1/2017 preferred these appeals.

(2.) Parties to the appeals are referred with their ranks as assigned in the trial Court for the sake of convenience.

(3.) The factual matrix leading to the case of prosecution can be stated in nutshell to the effect that on 17/8/2013, Ballari rural police with the help of Justice and Care Organization, conducted raid at 1 p.m. on D.C.Nagar situated on Belagal road, Ballari, pursuant to the credible information received that some persons with an intention of earning money were bringing the ladies and minors from different districts and States and they were forcibly involving them in the prostitution business. It is further alleged that they were earning money on such business of prostitution. They found near water tank situated at D.C.Nagar, that accused Nos.1, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28 were involved in conducting prostitution business and offering money to women and were supplying them to the customers. It is further alleged that CW- 108 with the help of CWs-1 to 4 conducted raid on the houses of aforesaid accused persons and apprehended the accused, further seized an amount of Rs.4,58,791.00 and other articles from them and they rescued CWs-5 to 47 who were brought by the aforesaid accused for prostitution business. On these allegations made in the complaint, Investigating Officer on completion of investigation filed the charge-sheet.