Shweta Basu sex racket: Santosham awards organisers in soup

HYDERABAD: In a new twist to the Tollywood actress prostitution case, it came to light that the suite at Park Hayatt at Banjara Hills, in which she was caught in a decoy operation by police, was reportedly booked by organisers of Santosham Awards.

This fact was mentioned by the Banjara Hills police in the remand report and it was also corroborated by the actress before the court. Defence counsel Pradeep Kumar also brought this issue to the notice of the court during his arguments. It is learnt that the organisers might be questioned by police to ascertain the fact during the course of the investigation. The court had recorded the actor's statement in in-camera proceedings.

The Hyderabad police commissioner's Task Force after nabbing her in a decoy operation through her alleged pimp, Balu, an assistant director, said they had exposed the actor by approaching her posing as customers.

The West Zone Task Force team, which reportedly carried out the operation, walked into the room after clinching the deal with Balu. "She was in the room as agreed upon for the activity until officials disclosed their identity. The agent with whom we came in contact took the money from us at her behest and deducted his commission. He also admitted this fact. The location was intimated by the agent,'' deputy commissioner of police (Task Force) N Koti Reddy told TOI.

The actress had claimed that she was falsely implicated by police and she was in the room on the invitation of Santosham Awards organisers just like other actors. She also claimed that she was a student and pursuing her graduation.

However, police refute her allegations saying that it was a clear cut case of prostitution facilitated by the now arrested Balu. A local court on Tuesday rejected her mother's petition to grant her custody of the actress. She was told to stay at the rehabilitation home for six months. Actress sex racket: Magazine booked hotel room