Bengaluru (PTI): Four women were arrested and four others, two of whom were from other states, were rescued after the CCB busted a prostitution racket operating from rented houses across the city, police said on Thursday.

The operation was carried out by the Central Crime Branch’s Women Protection Squad based on credible information gathered over multiple days about illegal activities at various locations, they said.

According to the police, houses had been rented in Manuvana, Vijayanagar, Ramaswamipalya, Banaswadi, Andrahalli, Veerabhadreshwara Nagar, and Byadarahalli, where women were being confined and forced into prostitution.

Acting on specific inputs, coordinated raids were conducted at these locations. During the operation, four women who were allegedly being forced into prostitution were rescued. Four women accused of running the racket were arrested, a senior police officer said.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed that they contacted clients over the phone and arranged meetings at the rented houses to carry out the illegal activities to earn more money, he added.

Cases have been registered at Vijayanagar, Banaswadi, and Byadarahalli police stations. The accused were produced before the court on different dates and have been remanded to judicial custody, police said.

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Hyderabad (PTI): A case under POCSO Act was registered against Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son here following allegations of sexual harassment of a minor girl, a charge denied by the accused who alleged extortion and criminal intimidation by the teen and her parents.

According to the 17-year-old girl's mother, Sanjay Kumar's son Bhageerath, who was in a relationship with her daughter, sexually harassed her.

The alleged relationship began about seven-eight months ago, police said.

They are yet to examine the girl, who is a student.

Meanwhile, Bhageerath complained to the police in Karimnagar that the girl who got acquainted to him, invited him to her family functions and group gatherings.

An FIR was registered based on the complaint.

Bhageerath said in the complaint that, believing the girl's family to be trustworthy, he accompanied them and visited some holy places, as part of a friends group.

Subsequently, the girl and her parents intimidated him to marry her, but he rejected the proposal, following which the girl's parents demanded money and also threatened him with false complaints if he failed to pay the amount.

Out of fear, he paid Rs 50,000 to the girl's father, but they demanded Rs five crore. If he failed to comply, the girl's mother would commit suicide, Bhageerath alleged in his complaint.