Pune: The Crime Branch’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has uncovered a prostitution racket operating under the pretense of a massage parlor in the Rajaram Patil Nagar area of Kharadi. The manager of the massage parlor, Lokesh Rajkumar Puri (23), has been booked for allegedly coercing young women into prostitution by luring them with money.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit received a tip-off about illegal activities at a massage parlor. Acting swiftly, a police team conducted a raid on the premises. During the operation, multiple young women were rescued, and further investigation revealed that they had been coerced into prostitution by the accused, Puri.

A case has been filed by Assistant Sub-Inspector Chhaya Jadhav at the Chandan Nagar Police Station. Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Chavan is leading the probe into the matter.

Public Complaints and Strict Action

This raid comes after several citizens reported the involvement of massage parlors in illegal activities to Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. In response, the Commissioner instructed the police to take stringent measures against such establishments.

The police continue to monitor similar establishments across the city to prevent such illicit activities. Recently, Pune Police had unearthed a prostitution racket operating under the guise of a spa on NIBM Road.

The raid, conducted at Irene Spa, resulted in the arrest of the manager and owner, who were allegedly running the illicit business. The accused were identified as Shiv Rajesh Bhosale, aged 21, residing at Sainik Vihar, NIBM Post Office Road, and Nikhil Rajendra Naik, aged 26, residing at Green Park Society, Phursungi.