Nagpur: In a crackdown on alleged illegal flesh trade operating under the cover of a spa, the Nagpur police raided Velina Thai and Hammam Spa Centre in the Mangalwari Bazaar area on Thursday and rescued three women allegedly forced into prostitution for monetary gain. A 39-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly arranging premises and customers and facilitating the illegal activity in the name of spa services.
The raid was conducted at the Ryan Tower building between 3.45 pm and 6.30 pm on October 15, following confidential information received by Deputy Commissioner of Police Annapurna Singh, Zone II. Acting on the information, the police formed a team and carried out the operation in the presence of independent witnesses.
According to the police, the accused, identified as Lalpekmawai Tailbaka, a resident of Saiha district in Mizoram, allegedly lured the women with promises of money and arranged space and customers for them to engage in prostitution. She was allegedly operating the activity for her own financial benefit under the guise of a spa centre.
During the operation, police rescued three women from the premises and seized cash amounting to Rs 32,000, an iPhone, a scanner machine allegedly used to receive payments from customers, a digital video recorder (DVR), a monitor and other materials. The total value of the seized property has been estimated at Rs 77,500.
Case registered under trafficking and prostitution-related law
The Sadar police registered a case against the arrested woman under Section 143(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
The provisions invoked relate to offences associated with brothel-keeping, living on the earnings of prostitution, procuring or facilitating persons for prostitution, and prostitution in or near specified public places, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.
The accused has been arrested, and further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged operation, identify any other persons involved and determine the circumstances in which the three women were brought to the premises.
Senior officers supervise operation
The raid was carried out under the guidance of DCP Annapurna Singh, Zone II, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Gaikwad of the Sadar Division.
Senior Police Inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar, Police Sub-Inspector Niketan Killedar and other officers and personnel from the police team participated in the operation.
The police are continuing their investigation into the alleged illegal activity at the spa centre.
