MUMBAI: City crime branch on Thursday busted a live porn video-making racket after raiding a bungalow at Madh island in Malad and rescued a woman. The property cell arrested five persons of a production house, including two women (a photographer and graphic designer) who were recording porn at Green Park bungalow at old Ferry Marg.
Sources said it could be the tip of the iceberg as most private bungalows and shacks indulge in prostitution and shoot porn films under the guise of film-shooting.
What baffled police is that two women were part of the gang exploiting young girls under the pretext of giving them a break in the film industry.
Police rescued a 25-year-old victim and sent her for rehabilitation. The five were arrested under IPC sections for cheating, indulging in obscene acts in public places and publicly exhibiting or circulating obscene books or literature, and under Information Technology Act.
A bank account of the production house, which had a balance of Rs 36.5 lakh, generated from subscriptions of porn apps where the accused uploaded the videos, was frozen, , said deputy commissioner of police Prakash Jadhav.
“We got information that a gang was issuing advertisements for fresh faces and under the pretext of giving roles in movies they used to take them to the bungalows, make them do odd scenes, lure them with bigger amounts, make them sign agreements and force them to act in porn movies,’’ said senior inspector (property cell) Kedari Pawar.
Investigating officer Laxmikant Salunke said the accused would pay Rs5,000-15,000.
Going through WhatsApp chats and bank transactions it appears the gang has been doing this for one and a half years, said inspector Dheeraj Kohli.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)