Mumbai, Jan 13 (Mid-Day): A 27-year-old fashion designer, who was lured to Dubai with dreams of professional success, was forced into prostitution and repeatedly raped over 25 days. According to the police, a Khar-based boutique owner took her to Dubai on the pretext of giving her a lucrative job, but subsequently forced her into prostitution.
The Khar police have registered an FIR against Anjali Vinod Kumar Dey alias Agrawal, a Khar-based boutique owner. “Police have registered the FIR against Agrawal under section 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC only.
I am not satisfied with police action. I’ll approach the court soon,” said Avinash Dubey, the survivor’s lawyer. Rosy (name changed to protect identity), a resident of Goregaon (West), is a manager in a top real estate firm. She is also a diploma holder in fashion designing, and harboured dreams of having a successful career in the fashion industry.
On May 13 last year, Rosy met a woman who identified herself as Anjali Agrawal, through a friend. Anjali runs a boutique called Memsaab in Khar (West). In their first meeting, Anjali told her that she had a boutique with the same name in Dubai, and that she was looking for an assistant manager for the same — someone who could manage exhibitions and the business in the city. Anjali (50) promised Rosy a salary that she couldn’t refuse, at Rs 4 lakh per month.
Rosy agreed, and Anjali extracted Rs 10 lakh from her on the pretext of arranging for her a visa, air tickets and accommodation. “Thinking about a better future, I paid Rs 10 lakh to Anjali, after taking a loan from my uncle,’ said Rosy. On June 1 last year, Rosy left for Dubai with Anjali. After reaching Dubai airport, Anjali confiscated Rosy’s passport, saying that it had to be deposited at the reception of the hotel where they would occupy a suite.
Rosy was then confined in a 17th floor apartment. On June 2, Anjali and other three women kept designer dresses and different kinds of alcohol in her room. That evening, four men barged into the apartment and started drinking. Anjali introduced them as her friends who had come to have a good time. Around 10 pm, Anjali told an alarmed Rosy that one of her ‘friends’ liked her, and was ready to pay 3,000 Dirham for sexual favours. Rosy objected furiously and a quarrel ensued. Soon, Anjali started assaulting her.
“Anjali told me she had been involved in the prostitution business for the past 25 years. She claimed to have contacts in the Mumbai and Dubai police, as well as with ministers. She said that she would kill me if I dared to register a complaint against her,” said Rosy.
On June 3, yet another man raped her. By June 27, 11 more men had had forced themselves upon her at different times. Anjali handed over her passport and on the same day, Rosy rushed back to Mumbai. After recovering from the trauma of her ordeal, she contacted her lawyer, Avinash Dubey. Dubey took her to Khar police station and registered a complaint against Anjali Agrawal.
Dubey said, “I have complained to Dubai police headquarters as well. I have also written a letter to the hotel, demanding CCTV footage and other details.” Police sources said Agrawal had two passports. One of them bears the name Anjali Agrawal and the other says Anjali Vinod Kumar Dey. Police have seized one of the passports. “I am very busy. Call me later,” said Rajendra Tendulkar, investigation officer, when asked to comment on the case.
The Other Side
“I am aware about a police complaint. There’s no FIR registered against me. Rajendra Tendulkar (investigation officer) had called me to the police station. All these allegations are false. She (complainant) wants to extort money from me,” said Anjali Agrawal, the boutique owner.