Don’t grant bail to accused model: Court

Small-time model Rajani Bharti, allegedly involved in prostitution racket, will have to remain behind bars even though she is granted bail.

Small-time model Rajani Bharti, allegedly involved in prostitution racket, will have to remain behind bars even though she is granted bail.

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The division bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice A.R. Joshi has directed the police not to release Bharti even if she is granted bail by the lower court. “Do not release her. Inform us immediately if she is granted bail by the lower court,” said Justice Nazki.

On Tuesday, the sessions court rejected her anticipatory bail and she was arrested.

The prostitution racket came to light after a compliant was filed on May 21 by Bharti’s 17-year-old domestic help. She alleged that Bharti had spiked her cold drink and in state of unconsciousness, she was raped. She was also taken to Pune and Surat for prostitution.

The girl’s mother approached the high court this month as the police had not taken any action on the compliant. “Although the FIR was lodged, the police had not arresting the accused,” said Virendra Jabra, advocate for victim’s mother.

They even sought that the investigation be handed over to another officer.

“The police did not inform us when Bharti filed anticipatory bail,” he said.

Kejariwal added that the investigation had been handed over to another police inspector of the Versova police station.