Woman Arrested for Running Prostitution Racket in Navi Mumbai Shopping Mall

A woman has been apprehended in Navi Mumbai for allegedly operating a prostitution ring at a prominent shopping mall in Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai, as per police reports on Thursday. The 40-year-old suspect was purportedly managing the illicit operation from a spa located within the well-known mall in the Vashi district. Authorities have also managed to rescue two individuals who were coerced into engaging in the sex trade by the woman.

Police Sting Operation Reveals Trafficking Scheme

Following a tip-off received from a reliable source, law enforcement officials dispatched an undercover officer to the spa on Tuesday evening. It was during this operation that two young women, approximately in their twenties, were discovered working at the establishment and being forced into prostitution, stated Senior Police Inspector Prithviraj Ghorpade of the Navi Mumbai anti-human trafficking department.

Arrest and Rescue Efforts

The police swiftly arrested the alleged perpetrator who was overseeing the spa and allegedly coercing individuals into sex work. The two victims were promptly relocated to a secure facility, where they are presently under protection, the official disclosed.

Legal Action Taken

An investigation has been launched by the police, and a case has been registered against the accused woman under Section 370 (trafficking of persons), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Previous Prostitution Bust in Navi Mumbai

In a separate incident, two individuals were apprehended, and a 14-year-old girl from Bangladesh was rescued from a prostitution network in Navi Mumbai the previous week. Law enforcement officers conducted a raid at a residential complex in the Taloja area following a tip-off from an informant, successfully rescuing the young girl.

“Two suspects, identified as Samon Shaikh and Mohinoor Mandal, were taken into custody, and a 14-year-old female from Bangladesh was rescued. A case has been filed under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,” revealed Sub Inspector Suresh Kurhade of the Taloja police station.

(With inputs from PTI)