Four held for running prostitution ring; three women rescued from Navi Mumbai lodge

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Police have arrested four persons for allegedly running a prostitution racket from a Navi Mumbai lodge and rescued three women from there, an official said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI.

The Anti Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) of Navi Mumbai raided the premises of Raj Inn Lodging and Boarding at Shiravane in the Nerul area on Thursday after sending a decoy customer, reported PTI.

They arrested three agents and the manager of the Navi Mumbai lodge and rescued three women who had been pushed into the illicit trade. The women have been moved to a shelter, he said.

Senior inspector Prithviraj Ghorpade of the AHTC said the agents interacted with potential clients through a weblink and WhatsApp and shared photos of women for selection. Clients were then instructed to book accommodations at the Navi Mumbai lodge, where the women would be made available to them, reported PTI.

The Turbhe police have registered a case under the Indian Penal Code for human trafficking and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and are looking for the owner of the lodge, he added, reported PTI.

In another case, the Navi Mumbai police have registered a case against five persons for allegedly cheating several people after promising "unsustainable" returns on their investment, an official said on Friday, reported PTI.

The accused claimed that they belonged to a company named "SPVS" and asked the victims to indulge in "share trading" through them, the official said, reported PTI.

The accused promised to double the money in a year if a client invested Rs 1 lakh besides selling many other "attractive" schemes that the police said were "unsustainable", reported PTI.

However, the investors did not get any returns even after paying huge sums, he said.

Acting on several complaints, the newly established Financial Intelligence Unit of the Navi Mumbai police registered a case against Sachin Dongre, Vikas Nikam, Bhagwan Kondalkar, Deepali Kondalkar, and Sagar Borate under the Indian Penal Code for cheating and the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishments) Act, reported PTI.

The company's offices at Vashi and Mhape were found to be locked, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)