The Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have smashed a high profile prostitution racket by arresting eight people, including an alleged former model from Mumbai, in its continuing crackdown on flesh trade in the capital.

Kiran alias Kamlesh Verma alias Mummy (54), the leader of the racket, along with three girls and four touts were arrested from a North Delhi area on Sunday evening, police said. Five mobile phones were seized from them.

One of the girls, Karishma, who hails from Mumbai, claimed to be a fashion model, the police said. All were produced before a court, which remanded Kiran to a day's police custody and 6 to 14 days judicial custody.

Another girl, Priyanka Kaur, was released on bail after a driver affiliated to a school claimed that she was his relative.

Acting on a tip-off the police set up a decoy, who contacted Kiran on her mobile phone and struck a deal for Rs 20,000 each for three girls, Rs 5,000 per girl as commission and Rs 500 for each of their escort, they said.

When the girls came along with Kiran and four touts for the service, a police party arrested them, they said.

Kiran had over 40 girls under her and agents all over the country who lure aspiring models and beauticians into this profession, the police said.

Interestingly, Kiran hired girls on contracts ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 100,000 per month, police said. Each girl was required to entertain at least two customers per day.

Kiran also used to send out an advance party to ensure the deal was genuine and not a police trap, they said.