Boss of Stratford table-dancing club held on suspicion of ‘human trafficking’

Jhankaar Club in Stratford
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The owner of a Bollywood-themed table dancing club has been arrested on suspicion of “forced labour and human trafficking” offences after police alleged they found teenage girls performing there.

Police say a 17-year-old girl was found dancing at Jhankaar Club in Stratford and girls as young as 14 were suspected of performing there, according to documents submitted to Newham council.

The club, which is next door to The Children’s Society charity, has now lost its alcohol and sexual entertainment licence pending an appeal.

Owner Mohammed Sethi and a Pakistani woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit forced labour and human trafficking, a council licensing meeting was told on Tuesday.

They heard that detectives discovered three Pakistani women when they raided the venue on September 14.

Pc Gary Watson, from Newham police, said: “One woman told immigration officers she was being held against her will after being in the UK for five days.”

During a police visit in July, a 17-year-old was found dancing and two other girls, aged 14 and 16, were discovered in “full make-up” in a bed upstairs, the meeting was told. It is a breach of the club’s licence for people under 18 to be in a sexual entertainment venue.

Barrister James Rankin, on behalf of the Met, said: “An officer found two girls upstairs in bed ... wearing full stage make-up with glitter. They denied [they had been dancing].” Mr Sethi failed to provide CCTV from the club and has claimed it has “gone missing”, Mr Rankin added.

The hearing heard Mr Sethi and the woman had been bailed “pending further inquiries”.

Newham’s licensing committee revoked the licence for the Jhankaar Club but said The Refreshment Room on the ground floor of the building could remain open.

Mr Sethi did not attend the hearing but his son Imran told the Standard: “Dancers are not allowed to touch the customers. There is nothing of that nature.”

Mr Sethi denies the allegations and said in a statement that he was arrested on suspicion of “conspiracy to commit slavery, servitude or forced or compulsory labour” and not human trafficking.

He added: “The two young people in my flat were asleep on their own wearing no make-up, and were not, nor ever had been, clothed in dancing attire.”

A Home Office spokesman refused to comment.

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