NAVEEN REGO Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Respondents waive service. By consent of the parties taken up for hearing forthwith. This petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, by one Mr. Navin Rego who is the representative of International Justice Mission, a human rights organization which makes efforts to rescue minor girls who are commercially exploited or trafficked for the purposes of sex.

(2.) It appears that on 8th February, 2008 a raid was conducted at Dhoom Bar and Restaurant at Bhiwandi under the provisions of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act. 1956, (PITA for short) by Bhiwandi Town Police and Shantinagar Police Station. According to the petitioner, the evidence includes illegal prostitution activities documents on Video CD statements of the complainant, bogus customer respectable and independent panchas and victims, On the same day Bhiwandi Town police prepared a panchanama and handed it over to Shantinagar Police Station. The grievance of the petitioner appears to be that on 9th February, 2008, Shantinagar Police Station released victims into the hands of the traffickers and refused to lodge complaint on the ground that there was lack of evidence. According to the petitioner on 11th February, 2008 the petitioner gave written complaint to the Joint Commissioner of Police. Mr. Madhu Shinde. According to the petitioner, Mr. Madhu Shinde was ineffective and therefore he forwarded the complaint to D.C.P. Ankush Shinde who also did not respond to the complaint. Aggrieved by this attitude of the police, the petitioner has filed this petition.

(3.) The petitioner has made the following prayers: