The city police have busted a human trafficking ring that was sending junior artistes and dancers in the film industries of the country to Dubai promising them better opportunities, but eventually forcing them into flesh trade.
A 32-year-old junior artiste working in Kannada films, who went to Dubai believing promises of better opportunities by the ring, was eventually forced into flesh trade. However, somehow she managed to get her passport back and returned to Bengaluru. Thereafter, she approached the Central Crime Branch (CCB) that had spurred a probe into the ring.
Police arrested a total of seven men, most of them working as junior artiste managers and in the event management industry in the city and Tamil Nadu. The arrested have been identified as Basavaraju Shankarappa Kalasad, 43, a junior artiste manager, the kingpin of the ring, who was arrested in a similar human trafficking case in Nandini Layout in 2020 and was out on bail, dancer and artiste agent Adarsha, 28, courier delivery agent Chandru R, from the city, event management professional Rajendra Nachimuttu, 32, artiste agent Mariappan, 32, DJ and event manager T. Ashok, 29, artiste agent Rajiv Gandhi, 35.
