In a major operation over the past 48 hours, Pune Crime Branch has busted three sex rackets being run under the guise of spa centres and rescued 23 women — including minor girls and foreign nationals — from suspected trafficking and forced prostitution.
⚠️ This comes just four months after a similar prostitution racket was busted in Navi Mumbai (Feb 2025), where police rescued three women and arrested the lodge manager, a cook, and a trafficking agent.
🔍 Raids at Three Locations
1. Baner – Unique Spa
The first raid took place on Tuesday at Unique Spa in Baner. Two women were rescued and Abbas Hussain (21), the spa manager, was arrested on the spot. According to Senior Inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant, three other accused are currently absconding. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
2. Dhanori – Luxe Spa
The second raid occurred at Luxe Spa, located in Dhanori, led by the Social Security Cell of the Crime Branch. Acting on a tip-off, a decoy customer was sent to confirm illegal activities before the raid. Five women were rescued here, including two minor girls, and Kiran Baburao Aade (28), the manager, was arrested. The case is being handled under ITPA and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
3. Viman Nagar – Mansion Spa
The third and largest raid was carried out by the Viman Nagar police, with Senior Inspector Govind Jadhav of Airport Police Station leading the operation at Mansion Spa, located near Datta Mandir Chowk. The spa was on the third floor of a residential building.
A total of 16 women were rescued here:
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10 from Thailand
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3 from Maharashtra
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1 each from Delhi, Chandigarh, and Assam
Kunal Ghodke (31), the spa manager, has been arrested, and three others have been booked.
🛑 Human Trafficking in Urban Spa Setups
These raids reveal the ongoing issue of trafficking networks operating behind spa fronts. The use of decoy customers and swift coordinated action by multiple crime units played a key role in unearthing these illegal operations.
All rescued women, including minors, have been transferred to a correctional home for safety and rehabilitation.
