Union minister backing GB Road brothels: Swati Maliwal

Without revealing names, Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal on Thursday said that a prostitution racket, which is operational in Central Delhi’s infamous G.B. Road area, was “flourishing” with the protection of a “Union minister” and a “senior leader of a prominent party”.

She also said that an FIR was deliberately registered against her since she targeted the racket. The plan was to arrest her and get her removed as DCW chief through Delhi lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, she said. “In the past few weeks, I have been conducting raids in G.B. Road area, and trying to understand how this business has been flourishing just three-km away 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,” she said.

“After I got to know about all this, an FIR was deliberately registered against me. I also got inputs that they will get me arrested and through L-G, get me removed from the DCW,” she added.

Earlier this month, DCW had conducted a number of raids in GB Road area. A couple and six others have been arrested by the Delhi police for running a brothel in the area. Following this, 42 police personnel posted with the Kamla Market police station, under whose jurisdiction G.B. Road falls, were transferred to other police stations for allegedly not taking action against the accused. The police, however, denied any connection between the two incidents and termed the transfers as “routine”.

Ms Maliwal also said DCW had asked the municipal corporation to demolish the illegal basements and hideouts being used to hide the trafficked girls and women. “We have been telling MCDs to demolish the illegal tehkhanas (basements) which are being used to hide trafficked girls. This is a business, but where is all the money earned going. I am getting messages that don’t interfere in GB road issue and do whatever else you want, but even if I am removed from DCW I will continue to fight for this issue,” Ms Maliwal said.

Ms Maliwal was under fire from the ACB on Tuesday, which had lodged an FIR against her in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment in the women’s panel.