Sex racket busted, two women rescued from Dharampeth salon
, Nagpur city police's Social Security Branch (SSB), under 'Operation Shakti,' rescued two women from a flesh trade being operated from a unisex salon in the bustling Dharampeth area on Tuesday.
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The two rescued women were lured into a sex trafficking racket with false promises of financial rewards, said police. They have now been moved to a government shelter for medical care and rehabilitation.
The salon, rented around two years ago, was operating from the rooms, converting the parking zone for business purposes, said police. While the prime accused, Deepa Godade (35), was rounded up, the mastermind remained absconding, triggering a citywide manhunt.
Godade was the manager of the spa and was instrumental in operating the flesh trade. She is now in custody.
The raid, conducted by a team comprising head constables Sameer Shaikh, Prakash Mathankar, Ashwin Bhange, and others, led by Senior Inspector Rahul Shire under the supervision of DCP Rahul Maknikar and Addl CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, exposed the racket operating under the guise of a legitimate spa. Sources stated the cops kept the spa under surveillance for some time with credible information about the ongoing sex racket thriving among top-notch clients.
"We sent a police punter earlier in the day, but the spa owners refused to entertain him, leaving our raid unsuccessful. On our second attempt, we managed to crack them as the police informer sneaked inside and laid the trap. As soon as the spa operators accepted the cash, the cops barged in," said a cop who was part of the probe.
Police seized Rs 3,000 in cash, an iPhone worth Rs 25,000, a Poco mobile worth Rs 10,000, a DVR valued at Rs 2,000, and a condom packet, totalling Rs 40,000 in confiscated items. "Operation Shakti is our commitment to uproot trafficking networks and protect vulnerable women," said CP Ravinder Singal.
The accused face charges under Sections 143(2) (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Investigations suggest links to a broader trafficking syndicate, with further arrests expected.
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