Flesh trade finger at 'minister'

New Delhi: The chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women on Friday alleged that a prostitution racket in central Delhi's GB Road area was "flourishing" with protection from a "Union minister" and a "senior leader of a prominent party". Swati Maliwal, who did not mention any names, also alleged a plan to arrest her and get her removed as DCW chief through lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung. "I have been conducting raids in the GB Road area and trying to understand how this business has been flourishing just 3km from Parliament. I wanted to know under whose protection it was flourishing. During investigation, we found a Union minister and a senior leader of a prominent party, were providing protection to those involved in the flesh trade. "After I got to know all this, an FIR was deliberately registered against me. I also got inputs that they will get me arrested and, through the LG, get me removed from the DCW," she told reporters. The DCW had earlier this month conducted raids in the area and Delhi police arrested a couple and six others for allegedly running a brothel. Forty-two police personnel posted with Kamla Market police station, under whose jurisdiction GB Road falls, were later transferred for allegedly not taking action against the accused. Police sources, however, denied any connection between the two and described the transfers as "routine". On Tuesday, the anti-corruption branch had lodged an FIR against Maliwal in connection with alleged irregularities in recruiting people for the women's panel.