Bombay HC Upholds Conviction In PITA Case, Rejects ‘Victim Shaming’ Argument Over Immigration Status

Mumbai, October 2, 2026: The Bombay High Court has maintained the conviction of a 41-year-old woman for operating a brothel in the city, emphasizing that a victim's immigration status cannot be used to lessen the seriousness of the crime or strip her of dignity. Justice M.M. Sathaye rejected Rani Singh's appeal against her conviction under Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (PITA), and ordered her to turn herself in within four weeks.

Police conducted a raid on February 17, 2011, at a property in Krishna Building on Pavwala Street, Grant Road, following a tip-off from the NGO Rescue Foundation. After sending a decoy customer to the location, Singh and two other girls were apprehended. The prosecution claimed that Rs 500 was paid to one of the girls, and police also seized tissue papers and condoms.

Singh's defense argued that the prosecution relied heavily on NGO witnesses and that the accused was an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant, questioning her credibility as a witness. However, Justice Sathaye dismissed this claim, stating that a victim's immigration status does not diminish the severity of the offense. The court also dismissed the claim that NGO witnesses could not be relied upon, noting that in brothel raids, it may not always be possible to obtain independent witnesses.

The court upheld the magistrate's and Sessions Court's findings and canceled Singh's bail bond and surety.