Caught in a sex racket, Shweta Basu Prasad allows to go home

New Delhi, Oct 31: Shweta Basu Prasad, the national award winning actress made headlines two months back but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. The actress was arrested for her alleged involvement in prostitution when she was caught during a police raid in a high profile Park Hyatt hotel at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

Soon after her arrest she was sent to a rescue home by the court. On 30th September a lower court had extended her stay at the home for another six months. But Shweta’s mother had filed a revision plea against the order. Now in a latest development, the sessions Court in Nampally has ordered to release her from the rescue home. She is now all set to return at Mumbai to her brother and mother.

In the court, the lawyer appearing on Shweta’s behalf, S Pradeep Kumar had said, "She was wrongly implicated in the case by the police." He also argued that the actor has a brilliant future and should not be kept at the rescue home. Kumar has stated, "The police could not prove anything to say that Shweta had indulged in prostitution. The agent and the alleged customer were both police decoys. They did not even recover any cash from her possession. It was seized from the agent, Balu."

In the court Shweta submitted a statement that said, "On August 30th I came to Hyderabad to attend the Santosham Movie Awards function as a guest. The organizers (of the awards) provided me accommodation at Park Hyatt Hotel...I was humiliated by the police and they took my pictures with their cell phones without my consent...I panicked." Her statement further stated, "I am pursuing my mass media communication course, am a freelance photographer, documentary/short-film maker...I reside in Mumbai with my parents...though their relationship is strained I am in touch with my father...my mother will take care of me...I do not require any counselling or rehabilitation."

Her lawyer also raised the question why police did not take any action against hotel management when it is clear that the rooms of the hotel were regularly used as brothel. But the police authorities have denied all allegations. According to the police the pimp was doing it “clandestinely”. Additional deputy commissioner N Koti Reddy said in a statement, "They (the hotel authorities) did not know anything about such activities taking place on their premises. We did ask them about it when we raided the place, but the hotel was clueless. Balu was indulging in it clandestinely."

Also Read: Shocking: Tollywood actress, star kid of Bollywood movie Makdee, caught in prostitution racket

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