Bureaucrats, politicians, Bollywood actors involved in Madhya Pradesh sex scandal
What's the story
Over 4,000 media files of sex chats, explicit videos/audios involving top bureaucrats and politicians of Madhya Pradesh have been unearthed by probing agencies. Reportedly, several VIPs were honey-trapped and blackmailed in what has been called the country's "biggest quid-pro-quo sex scandal." The honey-trapping gang was masterminded by one Shweta Swapnil Jain, who lured the VIPs with sex workers, college girls, and Bollywood actors.
Details
SIT arrests six in honey-trapping racket
The sex-blackmail and extortion racket was exposed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of MP police headed by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Sanjeev Shami. The SIT arrested five women on Wednesday, including Jain (39), who runs a local NGO, her 48-year-old namesake, Barkha Soni (35), Arti Dayal (34), and an 18-year-old college student, NDTV reported. Driver of Arti Dayal was also arrested.
Extortion
Here's how the gang conducted its illicit activities
Reportedly, Jain hired call girls and employed college girls to honey-trap bureaucrats and politicians holding important offices of the state government. An SIT officer told IANS, "After initial interaction with a bureaucrat or a minister, Shweta used to invite the 'target' for sex, to a guest house or a five-star suite of her choice." The sexual act was then recorded by a hidden mobile/spy-cam.
Files seized
Laptops, mobile phones, documents, video evidence recovered from Jain's home
The officers have seized laptops, mobile phones, documents and video evidence from Jain's house which contains thousands of explicit video clips. Although Dayal revealed that she obliged ministers' requests for B-grade Bollywood heroines and models, no video footage to establish the same has been found yet. Over 200 mobile phones recovered indicate that the racket may not have been limited to Madhya Pradesh.
Information
Former MP Chief Minister also involved
Reportedly, both Congress and BJP politicians are involved with the racket. According to NDTV, dozen top bureaucrats and eight former ministers of Madhya Pradesh are being investigated. Notably, a former Chief Minister and Governor of Madhya Pradesh were also targeted by the racket, IANS reported.
Corruption
Jain procured lucrative projects for NGO by honey-trapping politicians
During interrogations, Jain confessed that upon honey-trapping a top government official, she would blackmail them into procuring lucrative contracts for her NGO, including a Rs. 8 crore contract from the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Reportedly, she also rents the house of BJP MLA Brijendra Pratap Singh. She also confessed that a former state Chief Minister once gifted her a bungalow in the posh Minal Residency.
Information
Dayal used honey-trapped IAS officer to reach ministers
According to IANS, Dayal also started an NGO to extort government funds. She confessed to honey-trapping an IAS officer of MP cadre who introduced her to several ministers and even arranged for a flat from where she operated her illicit deals.
Revelation
Racket exposed after honey-trapped Municipal Corporation engineer filed complaint
The racket was exposed after Indore Municipal Corporation engineer Harbhajan Singh filed a complaint against Dayal. Singh accused Dayal of trying to extort Rs. 3 crore from him. Dayal was arrested by the police when Singh invited her to collect the first instalment of Rs. 50 lakh. Her interrogation exposed the racket. The IMC suspended Singh, on Monday, over violation of service conduct rules.