Thriving male escorts trade puts cops in a quandary

The newly-formed Marketing Intelligence Unit of Crime Branch finds it difficult to crack the business and related offences

• MIU is headed by an ACP rank officer; has 25 team members
• Each male escort costs 5,000 to 30,000 depending upon the time
• Business is thriving in posh colonies like Banjara Hills, Red Hills, Jubilee Hills
• 36 cases registered in one year

Hyderabad: Even as the ‘moral police’, general public and the State administration are making a hue and cry about the ever-growing flesh trade involving hapless women from across the State, the guardians of the law are racking their brains over how to contain another menace that is rampant – male prostitution and related offences including online frauds.

Despite efforts made by the Marketing Intelligence Unit (MIU), a wing of the Crime Branch which was created last year with 25 cops, headed by a senior ACP rank officer to curb online economic offences, the unit is finding it difficult to crackdown ‘male escorts’ business, a part of white-collar crimes which promises to provide male sex workers and collects huge amounts.

There are a large number of websites offering ‘male escort’ services in the city and some even offer work to those interested in becoming ‘male escorts.’ These websites offer men’s service to accompany women to functions, weddings, dinners as well as just to provide some company for a night, all for a price.

When The Hans India called up one of the numbers advertised on the websites, a nonchalant voice at the other end told she could manage a boy at the door within two hours and the amount should be paid only in cash to the escort. The rates vary from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000 depending upon the number of hours the customer requires the services of escort.

On the other hand, the police have been receiving several complaints about many websites which promise job of male escort and later dupe them after collecting huge money. Recently, a 33-year-old female, Farheen Naaz from Noorkhan Bazaar in Hyderabad, was arrested for allegedly cheating several men by promising jobs to the tune of Rs 3.5 lakh.

According to the police, the ‘male escorts’ business network is thriving and the majority of those who are willing to work as escorts are businessmen and young professionals with fat pay cheques. Pimps, who advertise on the net, frequently change their addresses making it difficult for the police to crack down on them. This business is said to be thriving in the upmarket colonies including Banjara Hills, Red Hills and Jubilee Hills areas.

“The MIU has registered as many as 36 cases so far, of which 14 accused were arrested in nine cases and the investigations are in progress in the remaining 27 cases and about 48 petitions are being enquired into,” Additional CP (Crimes & SIT) Swati Lakra said adding that the unit which initially worked with one inspector along with his team has been upgraded to two teams headed by one inspector each and cyber staff to handle the cases.

Though the MIU is coordinating with financial regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies like RBI, SEBI, DRI and TRAI to identify companies committing white collar crimes in the city, the results are not satisfactory, according to an official source.

By Victor Rao