Mid-Day

Mumbai, Jun 20: Forty-three couples were arrested by the Thane rural police late Sunday night for ‘indecent behaviour in a public place’. The couples were using the premises of 28 illegal shacks, lodges and resorts at Vasai, Nallasopara, Virar, Mira Road and Bhiwandi.

The raids began at 4.30 pm and continued for two hours. The shacks were illegal as their papers were not in order.

The cops also raided 54 other lodges and resorts near beaches and four bars in Mira Road. Twenty-five bar girls, who the police said were into prostitution, were arrested and will be produced in court today. “It was a very well planned operation.

Three police inspectors, one deputy superintendent of police, and nearly 80 policemen took part in the raids,” said PSI Manohar Ramade from the Mira Road police station.

In Nallasopara, 22 lodges were raided, among which 16 were illegal. The police arrested 13 couples from the lodges. In Bhiwandi, 12 lodges were raided, while the cops arrested 28 couples.

In Vasai, two couples were arrested from lodges at Ganesh Puri at Vasai road. Raids were also conducted at Arnala beach in Virar and Mira Road. The couples were charged under section 110 and 117 (indecent behaviour in public place) of the Mumbai police act and were released Sunday night.