Kochi: Rahul Pashupalan and his wife Reshmi R Nair, a model by profession, ‘Kiss of Love’ Organizers along with 14 other held for involving online child pornography on Tuesday.
When Police conducted raid on Tuesday night many NRIs including an infamous gangster Akbar was also arrested. The Rahul and Reshmi were held from Nedumbassery near Cochin airport. Police under the code name “Operation Big Daddy” conducted the raid to crackdown online flesh trade. This operation was carried out by a team led by IG of Crime Branch, S. Sreejith.
The cyber police initiated the raid based on the information that an online sex racket was functioning through various websites and social media platforms like Facebook. In order to unearth entire gang involved in the racket, Police officials posing as NRIs contacted Abdul Khader, kingpin of the online sex trade racket. Finally a deal for 4 lakh was finalized for providing girls. Police also credited Rs. 20,000 in the bank accounts of the racketeers as advance.
Later, as planned, police customers booked rooms in the hotel. Leneesha Mathew, one of the members of the racket brought two minor girls. Rahul along with his wife Reshmi also reached the hotel. Although the raid was successful but two managed to escape who believed to be key accused in the online sex racket. During the raid some police official also got injured.
IG of Crime Branch, S. Sreejith said that police had collected strong digital evidences to prove the involvement of each accused nabbed in the raid. He said that Rahul was associated with the racket for nearly a year. He also said that police has nothing to do with his “Kiss of Love”. Police has registered a case against the accused under various section of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, IPC and IT Act.
Other accused arrested in the raid includes, Abdul Khader alias Akbar (31), Leneesha Mathew (39), Ajeesh (21) and Aashique (34). Three among the 16 arrested are from other states.
During the raid two minor girls hailing from Yelahanka in Bangalore and the 6-year-old son of Rahul and Reshmi were rescued.