Tura, July 23: BJP state vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N Marak has categorically denied running a brothel at his private farm “Rimpu Bagan” and alleged that the police raid was conducted without warrant.

He also questioned the timing of the raid conducted on Friday evening with regards to a POCSO case registered in February this year.

“I was always cooperating with any investigation and we’re never absconding. Why should that case be linked to yesterday’s raid now?” Marak said in a statement issued on Saturday.

“A premeditated raid was conducted in my private farm house and later at my mom’s house and all allegations are targeted to arrest me with fabricated allegations. The raid was conducted without warrant…,” he added.

His statement came after West Garo Hills police claimed to have busted a sex racket at Rimpu Bagan which led to the arrest of over 73 persons and rescue of five children including a girl, who were locked inside “unhygienic rooms” of the building owned by the MDC.

Marak, who was a former chairman of the disbanded ANVC (B), said that he was shocked to see the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police present during the raid which was conducted without warrant.

“In normal circumstances, it’s the excise department which conducts such raids but in my case, it was a power head mode. All protocols are violated at will. It’s my private property and it stands outside the municipal area,” he said.

Admitting that it is true there is no license since he is a tribal, Marak however outrightly rejected the allegation of running a brothel and claimed that none of those detained were involved in any indecent activities.

He further claimed that the police trespassed and harassed the minor students whom he was sponsoring to study and alleged them to be involved in sexual activities.