Nagpur police bust alleged prostitution racket at Ganesh Nagar spa, arrest owner and manager

The Social Security Branch of the Nagpur Crime Branch has busted an alleged prostitution racket run under the cover of a spa in the Ganesh Nagar area of the city. The spa's woman owner and a male manager have been arrested. Police said both are accused of exploiting a woman by luring her with the promise of large earnings in a short time.

Police had received firm information about illegal prostitution. Acting on it, a Social Security Branch team raided SM Spa, operating in Vandana Apartment near Sharda Chowk in Ganesh Nagar, under Kotwali police station limits, on November 2. The operation ran from 4.10 pm to 8.15 pm, and independent witnesses were present.

In the raid, police caught the spa's owner, Shaba Parveen Munawwar Sheikh (36), a resident of Mahal. The manager, Sheikh Mohsin Munna Sheikh (28), a resident of Nandanvan, was also caught. Police allege that both were running prostitution for money.

Police said the two accused allegedly acted in collusion. They are accused of promising the woman a chance to earn a good sum in a short time. It is also alleged that they provided both the premises and the customers at the spa, and had the woman engage in sexual activity in exchange for money.

Police said the raid showed that the spa, operating as a business, was allegedly being used as a front for illegal activities. The accused were allegedly making illegal earnings at the victim's expense by arranging customers and premises.

During the operation, the Crime Branch seized Rs 3,000 in cash, three mobile phones and other items. The total seized property is valued at about Rs 45,000.

A case has been registered at Kotwali police station against the accused under Sections 143(2), 143(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The arrested accused have been handed over to Kotwali police, along with the seized items, for further legal action.

Police are now investigating further. The probe will establish how widespread the alleged racket was and whether anyone else was involved in running it.