Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
The Crime Branch and AHTU team busted a prostitution racket at Nandini Lodge in MIDC Waluj, arresting three accused and rescuing five women. Acting on a tip-off received on April 2, police executed a planned raid near the workers’ square in the Valuj industrial area under the guidance of senior police inspector Gajanan Kalyankar.
Police sub inspector Jagannath Menkudle said police created a fake customer, gave him marked notes in the presence of witnesses, and sent him to the lodge. The customer paid Rs 1,500 for a woman and was taken to a room. Following a pre-arranged signal, police raided the lodge immediately. Manager Sachin Gosavi was taken into custody along with cash, marked notes, a mobile phone, and a scanner used for online payments. Further investigation revealed the involvement of Nitin Gosavi and Umesh Amle. During the raid, one woman was found with the fake customer, while four others were recovered from separate rooms, confirming the lodge operated a regular prostitution business. The women told police they were lured with promises of money; only Rs 500 of the Rs 1,500 charged per client was given to them. The women included locals as well as individuals from West Bengal and Bangladesh, suggesting a wide network. Police seized Rs 78,350 worth of evidence, and a case has been registered at MIDC Waluj police station.