Bal Thackeray grandson booked after bar raid

MUMBAI: Nihar Thackeray, a grandson of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, has been booked under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act ( PITA). He is believed to be the owner of a ladies' bar in Santa Cruz (West) from where nine women were rescued after a raid by the police in the early hours on Wednesday. The women are believed to have been pressed into prostitution, and are being treated as victims.

Nihar is the son of the Sena supremo's eldest son Binda, a film producer who died in a road accident in 1996. A police officer said Nihar--who the cops are searching for--had interests in several bars in the city. He maintains his own household in Bandra (East).

The officer said that most ladies' bars in the city are a cover for dancing (which is banned) and "other immoral activities". They are owned by powerful politicians, who come from all parties, which is why they are seldom raided.

Wednesday's raid was conducted at 12.30 am at Sangeet Bar. The police had quite a task at hand. "We were confident about finding the women, since we had specific input," said DCP (zone IX) KMM Prasanna, who led the team. "We had to demolish a wall made of concrete to reach the room where the women were kept."

The police have booked the management. They arrested Ramesh Shetty, Harish Shetty and Arjun, and are looking for Anu Shetty, who manages several such bars.