Pune police bust sex racket run from Ayurvedic massage parlour in Vadgaon Budruk, couple held

Narhe police on Tuesday night busted a sex racket allegedly being run under the cover of an Ayurvedic massage parlour in a flat of a residential building in Vadgaon Budruk, Pune. Police rescued women who were allegedly pushed into commercial sexual exploitation. The flat is near Navale Bridge on the Pune-Bengaluru highway.

A husband and wife have been arrested in the case. Both are accused of running the illegal business. The accused have been identified as Mahadevi Vikas Chougule (42) and her husband Vikas Shankar Chougule (50). Both live in Shivajinagar Gaothan, Pune.

According to police, the couple was running a centre named "Soham Ayurvedic Treatment Centre" in a residential apartment in Vadgaon Budruk. It was projected as a place for massage and Ayurvedic treatment, but investigators allege that activities linked to prostitution were going on there.

Narhe police had received reliable information about alleged illegal activities at the massage parlour. Police then planned a raid and sent a decoy customer to confirm the information.

After the information was confirmed, a police team raided the place at around 8.45 pm on Tuesday. During the action, police found women who were allegedly being made to engage in prostitution. Police rescued them from the spot.

Police suspect it was an organised arrangement in which the massage parlour was being used as a front for commercial sexual exploitation.

According to the police complaint, the accused couple allegedly lured the women with money and persuaded them to take up prostitution. Police allege that the two ran the business from the residential flat and depended on the earnings from this illegal trade for their livelihood.

Police are now investigating the circumstances in which the women were brought to the centre and the alleged role of the accused in making them take part in prostitution. The exact number of women rescued and their identities have not been disclosed.

The complaint in the case was filed by police constable Swapnil Suryawanshi. After the raid, Narhe police registered an FIR against Mahadevi and Vikas Chougule the same Tuesday night and arrested both accused.

Further investigation is under way. Police are trying to establish how big the alleged racket was and whether anyone else was involved. The action has also drawn attention to the alleged misuse of residential premises under the cover of massage and wellness services.