"CID To Investigate The Akola Sex Racket Case"

The much talked about sex racket case, that has swayed Akola, has been taken over by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday.

The racket came to light when an 18-year-old woman alleged that she had been forced to offer sexual favours to a lot of government officials and businessmen, including the Akola district police chief Deepak Pandey.

However, the woman later withdrew allegations against Pandey, an IPS officer, who has been involved in other controversies in the past. Later still, she said that she had indeed been taken to Pandey by the racket kingpin Nitu Takwat but was excused as she was unwell and another woman had been arranged to offer sexual favours to Pandey.

According to the police sources, the Home Department had asked Pandey to proceed on leave to make sure that his presence did not hamper the inquiry.

Pandey denied all the charges and said that he knew about the racket a month ago and had also ordered an inquiry.

In 2004 the then aide-de-camp to the governor was charged with misbehaving with a traffic constable, making him stand in the scorching heat on the Raj Bhavan and threatening to transfer him. In November 2004, Pandey was suspended after his wife Dr. Nidhi Pandey, an IAS official, alleged physical torture and demands for dowry from her husband.