A team led by senior inspector Bhanupratap Barge was working on a tip-off by constable Ashok Takalkar’s informants that a 32-year-old agent, Rajkumar Mariathasan, has been bringing models and aspiring actresses to various hotels in Pune and Mumbai for prostitution. “Around 10 pm on Saturday, we arrested a 22-year-old woman, Caroline Mariathasan along with Rajkumar, who is her step-brother, from a five-star hotel in Pune,” Barge said.

Investigations revealed that Caroline is a graduate and had been modelling for jewellery and garments in south India. “Caroline has told us that her father, Ranjit, runs a photo studio in Mumbai. We have made her father an accused in the case and have launched a search for him,” Barge said.