High-profile sex racket busted in Mumbai, 3 men arrested

Flesh racket was being run under the guise of a spa. 5 women are also rescued

jayprakash.naidu@hindustantimes.com

The police sent a decoy customer to the spa, before swooping in and raiding it (HT REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

The Mumbai police crime branch on Wednesday night arrested a manager and two customers on charges of human trafficking for allegedly running a sex racket under the guise of a spa in Meera Tower in Oshiwara, where several IPS officers own flats. The police also rescued five women who were pushed into flesh trade.

However, a crime branch source clarified that a private person, who is wanted in the case, owns the place and he has nothing to do with the society or its members.

The raid was conducted by officials from crime branch unit 9. Acting on a tip-off , the crime branch sent a decoy customer to the spot. Once it was ascertained that a sex racket was being run, officials swooped in and raided the spot.

The five rescued women have been sent to a shelter home. As they are from other states, the police have added section 370 (3) (buying or disposing of any person as a slave) of the Indian Penal Code to the case.

The owner has been shown as wanted in the case. The police also seized about Rs4,650 and the customer entry register of the spa.

An FIR has been registered with the Oshiwara police station under relevant sections of the IPC and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The accused were produced before a special court and remanded to police custody. The case has been transferred to Oshiwara police for further probe.