Navi Mumbai Police Crack Down on Prostitution Racket, Rescue Two Women
In a significant operation, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the crime branch in Navi Mumbai successfully rescued two women from a prostitution racket on Friday. The raid targeted a spa-cum-salon located in Roadpali, Kalamboli node, following a tip-off about illicit activities.
Decoy Operation Leads to Arrests
Acting on intelligence, the AHTU deployed a decoy customer to the Golden King Salon and Spa in Neelkanth Dham Society, Sector 16, Roadpali. The decoy requested a woman for sexual favors, leading to the manager, Salim Ansari (33), accepting Rs 4,500 and presenting two women for selection. Upon receiving the alert from the decoy, the police team waiting outside stormed the premises, rescuing the women and arresting the accused couple.
Arrested Accused and Their Background
The arrested individuals are Salim Ansari and his spouse Salma Ansari (26), who owns the spa. Both reside in Taloja Phase-1 and originally hail from Uttarakhand. According to Senior Inspector Pruthviraj Ghorpade of AHTU, the duo had rented the commercial shop just last month, ostensibly operating a spa-cum-salon but secretly engaging in sex trade.
Legal Actions and Charges
An FIR has been registered against the couple at Kalamboli police station. They face charges under the BNS section for aggravated human trafficking and relevant sections of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956. These include:
- Keeping, managing, or allowing premises to be used as a brothel
- Punishment for living on the earnings of prostitution
- Procuring, inducing, or taking a person for prostitution
The Panvel court has remanded them to police custody until April 6, pending further investigation.
Rescued Women and Their Welfare
The two rescued women, both in their 20s, are from Mankhurd and Raigad. In compliance with a court order, they have been accommodated at a women's shelter home in Deonar, Mumbai, ensuring their safety and support during this traumatic period.
This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation in urban areas.
