Pune: The Sinhagad Road Police have registered a case against eight women for allegedly engaging in prostitution under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
The action was based on a complaint filed by Police Sub-Inspector Suresh Jaybhay, who noted that the women were creating a public disturbance by making lewd gestures and obstructing traffic on the roadside.
The incident occurred on the night of October 23, when Police Sub-Inspector Jaybhay received a tip-off around 9 p.m. regarding women loitering under the Navale Bridge and allegedly soliciting clients.
According to the report, the women were calling out to passersby using suggestive gestures and signals. Jaybhay alerted Senior Police Inspector Raghavendra Singh Kshirsagar, who authorized an operation after verifying the information.
By 10:30 p.m., Jaybhay and a team, including female officers, reached the location, conducted a raid, and apprehended the women.
The police seized evidence in the presence of witnesses, which has been documented and retained for further legal proceedings. Crime Inspector Uttam Bhajanwale is leading the ongoing investigation.
Recently, a 32-year-old married woman had alleged that her husband and stepfather-in-law forced her into prostitution over a span of more than two years.
The harrowing ordeal began in March 2022 and continued until September 2024 in the Kasarwadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad. The case was registered after the woman lodged a complaint at the Bhosari Police Station on September 20, 2024.
The income generated from this illegal activity was used by the accused for their personal gain and household expenses.