Athlete held for 'call-girl ring'

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC correspondent in Calcutta

Police in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta have arrested a former athlete on charges of running a prostitution ring.

Four other people were arrested along with the athlete, Avtar Singh.

Mr Singh has appeared in court in Barrackpore, north of Calcutta, and is in custody.

His wife, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, is a former Indian track and field star and is now a Communist Party member of India's parliament.

Sporting icon

Avtar Singh runs a hotel in Calcutta's upmarket Salt Lake area.

Early on Monday, he was arrested along with four employees on charges of running a sex racket in the city.

Police allege that Mr Singh's hotel had become a den of call-girls and clients would come and pick up girls of their choice there.

Avtar Singh is married to a former Indian middle distance running champion, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, who joined politics after her retirement from athletics.

Ms Sikdar won several track and field gold medals at the Asian Games and is a local sporting icon.

She now represents West Bengal's ruling Communist party, the CPI(M) , in the Indian parliament. She has made no comment on the arrest so far. CPI(M) leaders also refused to comment.

Salt Lake residents have often complained of sex rackets run in the area in hotels, beauty salons and fitness and massage centres.