In a major crackdown on illegal activities, the Social Security Branch (SSB) has uncovered a sex trafficking racket allegedly being run from a hotel in the Wanadongri area. Police arrested the hotel manager during the raid and rescued three women brought from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The hotel owner and two accomplices are currently absconding.
The arrested accused has been identified as Nikhil Neelkanth Sonawane (27), a resident of Bhim Nagar, Chandur Railway in Amravati district. Police are searching for the hotel operator Yogesh Kailas Thakre (38), his brother Harshal Kailas Thakre (38), and business partner Santosh Ganpat Bisen (32), all residents of Amarnagar, Wanadongri.
According to police sources, the Thakre brothers operate Hotel MH-40 in Wanadongri, where Sonawane was working as the manager. Investigators said the hotel was allegedly being used as a base for prostitution, with women brought from outside the state and provided to selected customers.
Acting on specific intelligence, a Crime Branch team led by Police Inspector Dilip Chandan sent a decoy customer to the hotel. The decoy reportedly negotiated a deal of ₹2,500 with the manager for arranging a woman. Once the payment was accepted, the police team raided the premises and apprehended Sonawane.
During the raid, officers rescued three women — two from Ludhiana, Punjab, and one from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Police said the women had arrived in Nagpur about a week ago and were being kept at the hotel. The accused allegedly charged ₹2,500 per client, keeping ₹1,500 and giving ₹1,000 to the women.
Police seized a car, mobile phones, and cash collectively worth ₹3.41 lakh from the accused. Officials suspect the racket had been operating for a considerable time.
A case has been registered under provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (PITA), and further investigation is underway. The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP Rahul Maknikar by PI Dilip Chandan and his Crime Branch team.
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