TURA, July 25: Meghalaya BJP President Ernest Mawrie has lend support to absconding BJP MDC Bernard Rimpu Marak’s claims that he is innocent and was not operating any prostitution racket at his farmhouse in Edenbari, Tura which was raided by police on Friday night in which semi-clad couples were found in compromising positions, illegal alcohol of over 1000 litres and 500 packets of condoms were found.

On Sunday, BJP state president Mawrie claimed Bernard was innocent and was only running a “holiday resort” for “families”. But on the same day West Garo Hills police announced that six girls from the group detained on Friday night were actually involved in the flesh trade and their identification was made by no less than the caretaker of the farmhouse who has also been arrested.

West Garo Hills SP Vivekanand Singh Rathore told press persons in Tura on Sunday evening that the identification of the six girls came about only after they had managed to obtain bail from the district court in Tura on Sunday.

The arrested caretaker spilled the beans on the identification of the girls during interrogation and the SP said that they will now move for cancelling of their bail as part of the ongoing investigation.

40 out of 73 released

West Garo Hills SP Vivekanand Singh Rathore has said that 40 persons out of the 73 arrested during the farmhouse raid have been granted bail by the district court after police did not object to their release.

The police chief said that since the 40 were only caught drinking inside the farmhouse premises and not involved in any nefarious activities they were released on bail on Sunday.

“Those found indulging in other activities inside the rooms or were caught nude have not been granted bail,” said SP Rathore with some being sent forward to judicial custody and others, like the caretaker, being remanded to police custody for further questioning.