In a swift operation on Wednesday, the Social Security Branch (SSB) of City Police raided a brothel situated in the Ganga-Jamuna area of Lakadganj, rescuing a minor girl and two women who were allegedly forced into the flesh trade by pimps.
The raid led to the arrest of two women, identified as Deepa Raju Kanchan (50) and Neelam alias Guddi alias Kallubai Manish Dhanawat (55), both hailing from Badnapura, Motijheel, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. They stand accused of illegally operating a prostitution racket within the city.
Acting on specific intelligence, officers from the Crime Branch deployed a decoy customer to the brothel. After a financial transaction, Deepa and Neelam allegedly facilitated the transaction involving a young woman. Once confirmed, the decoy customer alerted nearby police personnel, prompting an immediate raid by the SSB team.
During the operation, police confiscated a sum of cash and three mobile phones valued at Rs 32,240 believed to be connected to the illicit activities.
Despite a permanent prohibition on prostitution in the Ganga-Jamuna locality, the accused women reportedly continued to run their illegal operation.
Deepa and Neelam have been booked under Sections 143 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, along with Sections 3, 4, 5, and 7 of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act, at the Lakadganj Police Station.
The successful raid was conducted under the supervision of senior Crime Branch officials, including PI Kavita Isarkar, and involved the efforts of HC Sachin Badhiye, HC Laxman Chawre, NPC Ajay Paunikar, NPC Sameer Shaikh, and others from the police force.