Reddy is in the news because she was arrested from a five-star hotel in Delhi, part of a police bust involving a prostitution ring run by a group of models and women linked with the fashion industry. Jyoti, who’s part of an "escort service", had flown into the capital on June 6 and advertised in the capital’s newspapers offering her services. Not knowing that a crime branch team of the Delhi Police had laid a trap, she was caught red-handed accepting an advance of Rs 2,000 from a decoy customer in the hotel lobby. A deal for Rs 15,000 had been struck earlier.
Police investigations so far have revealed that Jyoti entered the flesh trade as her family could not support her "high-flying lifestyle". As Dipender Pathak, dcp (Crime), Delhi Police, put it, "The woman told us she does ramp shows all over the country for famous fashion designers and had been coming to the city to meet TV producers." A two-year veteran in the prostitution racket, she has also alleged that "top designers are involved".
Since her arrival in Delhi last week, Jyoti had run up a huge bill at the hotel apart from the several payments made by cash. The fact that she had the right connections was also proved when two well-to-do businessmen stood surety for her bail. But right now, the police are zeroing in on the Bangalore-based woman, Lata, who had apparently sent her to the capital.
By Cyrus Batliwala
