These joints are becoming increasingly popular because they offer services like oral sex for Rs 300; customers are playing with their lives, as some of the bar girls are HIV positive
These joints are becoming increasingly popular because they offer services like oral sex for Rs 300; customers are playing with their lives, as some of the bar girls are HIV positive
It's 9 pm on Sunday. A young, college-going boy enters a bar in Mira Road as part of a sting operation by MiD DAY. From the outside, it appears like any other bar operating in the city. But this one's not. It's one of the many 'Silent Bars' that have mushroomed in the northern suburbs of the city that are frequented by youngsters.
From offering fellatio for Rs 300 to helping one masturbate for Rs 200 (they don't allow penetrative sex), these silent bars (called so because there is no noise) are in great demand in these difficult financial times. But there's a huge risk involved. Many of the girls servicing customers are HIV positive.
HIV scare
Assistant Superintendent of Police Maithili Jha confirmed to MiD DAY via a text message that some of the girls are infected with the deadly virus and that many youngsters are putting their lives at risk. She also said that five of the 30 bar girls she arrested during raids in March tested positive for HIV.
The silent bars are replacing old pick-up joints that burn holes in the pockets of customers. "The clients are mostly teenagers or people over 50 years of age (this group of people is called Viagra). The bars are becoming popular because they provide pleasure for nearly nothing.
Soliciting a bar girl out with the intention of having sex may not only take some days, but also cost the patron anything between Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. This may include booking a hotel room, paying for her drinks and showering a lot of money. In silent bars, one can experience instant pleasure for just Rs 300,'' said a bar owner, requesting anonymity. The police are aware of these bars in the city.
In fact, each bar owner spends approximately Rs 1.25 lakh each month to keep the cops on their side.
MiD DAY learnt that a lot of money is distributed to various police officials, excise officers and others from the court and the local Crime Branch to keep such bars running.
The silent bars have found favour with 15 hoteliers at Mira Road and Kashimira areas in the Thane district. What is even more glaring is that Thane (rural) is without a Superintendent of Police for the past four months after Naval Bajaj was transferred to a central intelligence agency.
How it operates
When a MiD DAY sleuth entered the bar with a hidden camera (We managed to get footage of what happens inside), the bar owner escorted him to a 20x30 feet hall that was completely dark. When a bevy of young prostitutes were ushered into the room, the bar owner flashed a torch light on their faces for the customer to select his choice of girl. He was then taken to a section of the hall divided by curtains and left in less than 10 minutes. "One could not see anything, except hear funny noises from different corners," said the sleuth.
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