The beauty of Delhi is that you can look at it and see what you want to see. At Moolchand Metro station, you can take a stroll with your family and treat yourself to the famous parathas from stalls that open till the wee hours. But barely 20 meters from the row of paratha stalls, where families congregate for an easy-on-the-wallet late night snack, a prostitution racket is being run under the nose of police, an investigation by The Pioneer revealed.
Ravinder, an auto-rickshaw driver, told this newspaper that it is an open secret that sex workers and their pimps are in cahoots with police as they go about their business unhindered every night. “I have been now plying my auto for over a decade and open solicitation for sex is a common scene every night. They charge anywhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500 for one time and not only women but some transgenders are also active. Often, I get passengers who ask me to point out the sex workers,” he added, as his colleagues nod in agreement.
This correspondent approached some of the women, the auto drivers pointed out were “in the business” to confirm whether this sex racket is really operational in the heart of posh South Delhi or whether this is yet another urban legend. “Rs 1,500 for one shot and Rs 3,000 for full night. I can also do it in the car,” was the blunt response from a sex worker. Feigning discomfort at the idea of engaging in an encounter in the car, proffering as an ostensible excuse that police may book us, the response was brazen, “You don't have to worry about police, they are taken care of. If you are not comfortable in the car, we can have sex in the park (nearby).” This correspondent beat a hasty retreat, naturally.
All of this is going on under the nose of the cops. There are two police stations — lajpat Nagar and Defence Colony in the vicinity and the GK-I PS is not too far either. Additionally, police patrol vehicles are parked in the areas. But all seem content to turn a blind eye to the illegal sex racket. Many of the customers who come to the area are groups of men who drink alcohol in their cars, eat their fill of pranthas from one of the Moolchand stalls and then strike deals with the sex workers operating in the area and drive off with them.
“There is an urgent need for a police checkpoint in the area. Anything can happen here. The place was famous for its paranthas and as a destination for late-night family outings; now it has turned into a den of vice,” Tushar Mishra, a resident of Gautam Nagar who had come to have parathas with his family, told The Pioneer.
Despite repeated calls to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) south east district and South district, there was no response. When the correspondent contacted the police stations in lajpat Nagar and Defence colony the Station House Officer (SHO) said to discuss the matter with the DCP's as they are not entitled to give any statement. “We have removed them from that place several times but again they might have returned. We will definitely look into the matter and take action,” said a senior police official.
