DCW serves summons on 125 brothel owners on GB Road

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 7

Determined to put an end to prostitution in the national Capital, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) today served notices to 125 owners of brothels on GB Road summoning them to appear between September 21 and 24 along with their identity and address proofs after the city agencies concerned provided different names for the same brothels.

Alleging a “political nexus” behind the multi-crore sex trade, DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal refused to buy that GB Road brothels can thrive without the “connivance” of authorities and “patronage of the political biggies”.

More so with a police station just 200 m away and with the municipal body not conducting any survey in the area — something the women panel has been pursuing ever since Maliwal took over in 2016.

“Based on the details of owners received from different authorities we have summoned all such owners whose names have been mentioned. We have been pursuing the matter with the police and the MCD for breaking the illegal construction of structures within the brothels,” the DCW chief said while adding that if they fail to report and they will face arrest.

According to the DCW Chairperson, such a gory business happening merely 3 km away from Parliament cannot happen without the connivance of system.

Maliwal vowed to nab the real brothel owners and shut down the brothels at the city’s infamous red-light area which she said has become a hub for human trafficking, especially of minor girls.

So the commission has pressing hard to ascertain the identities of real brothel owners, demolishing illegal structures and ensuring rehabilitation of the women trapped in the dark cellars of GB Road.

Earlier, the Commission had constituted a committee, headed by the DCW chairperson, comprising senior officials of the Delhi Police, North MCD, District Magistrate, Delhi Jal Board, BSES, Fire Department and representatives of prominent NGOs.

Summons for personal appearance to 125 brothel owners were issued by a DCW team lead by legal counsellor Princy Goel and mobile helpline coordinator Kiran Negi while summons of those who refused to receive them were pasted outside the brothels, said a senior official.