The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two individuals in connection with a sex racket operating in Chembur. The accused have been identified as Aftab Alam Ramjan Ali Ansari and Harilal Bandhu Chaudhary. A case has been registered against them under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The special POCSO court has remanded them to police custody.
During the operation, police rescued four young women, including a 16-year-old minor, who have now been sent to the Deonar Women’s Rehabilitation Center.
Several organized gangs are allegedly running sex rackets in Mumbai, trafficking young women, including minors, to various hotels, lodges, and guest houses based on client demands. Acting on a tip-off, the police obtained the contact number of a broker and, with the help of a decoy customer, requested girls, including minors, for solicitation.
After financial negotiations over the phone, the broker arranged for the delivery of the girls at a hotel on C.G. Gidwani Road in Chembur.
On Tuesday afternoon at 3 PM, accused Aftab Ansari and Harilal Chaudhary arrived at the hotel with five young women. As the money exchange was in progress, the police conducted a raid and caught them red-handed.
Both brokers were immediately arrested, and all five women, including the minor, were rescued. After a medical check-up, they were sent to the Deonar Women’s Rehabilitation Center.
Following their arrest, the accused were handed over to the RCF Police Station, where a case was registered against them under multiple legal provisions. On Wednesday, they were produced before the Special POCSO Court, which remanded them to police custody for further investigation.
Police are now probing further links to this racket and identifying other individuals involved in the trafficking network.