187 in judicial custody as cops face space crunch

As many as 187 accused arrested in the Grant Road sex racket busted on Thursday have been remanded in 14 days judicial custody as police did not press for their custody citing shortage of space to lodge them.

"Our police stations have, at best, a capacity to lodge 25-30 accused. We have taken permission from the court to allow us to segregate the middlemen and customers. Teams will be formed to question the accused and victims from Monday," said Krishna Prakash, Addl CP (South). He said the victims are yet to be identified but most of them only speak Bengali. In all, 294 women were rescued in a raid by the D B Marg police and the Special Branch of the Mumbai Police.

"They have been lodged in women's homes in Badlapur, Chembur, Deonar and Poisar. Teams will be sent on Monday along with interpreters," he added. Although, ages of the women are yet to be ascertained, he added at least 25 of them appeared to be minors.

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