Police have busted a flesh trade racket operating under the guise of a health spa in Maharashtra’s Thane district and rescued five women, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI.
A woman was also arrested following the raid at the spa located on Kalyan-Shil Road in Dombivli on Monday evening, according to a police release.
Decoy operation leads to raid
Acting on a tip-off, police sent a decoy customer to the facility to verify the illegal activity. Based on the confirmation, a police team later raided the premises, reported PTI.
During the operation, a woman identified as a broker was taken into custody.
Five women rescued, sent to rehabilitation centre
Five women were rescued from the spa and shifted to a rehabilitation centre in Ulhasnagar, officials said.
Case registered under anti-trafficking laws
A case was registered on Tuesday against the arrested woman and the spa manager under charges of human trafficking under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
Father forces daughters into prostitution in Navi Mumbai
In a separate incident, the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) busted a human trafficking racket involving minor girls on February 20, 2026, following a tip-off.
According to the police, the accused are Raj Singh alias Raja Barat, the father of two minor girls whom he allegedly forced into prostitution, and his partner Harish Vikas Chhari, who was arrested by the team.
Police said the duo avoided lodges and hotels, as the girls were minors, and instead dropped them directly at locations specified by customers. Following instructions from the decoy, Harish was asked to bring the girls to a designated spot in CBD Belapur. As soon as he arrived, the AHTU team, already positioned nearby, apprehended him. The girls, aged 14 and 16 originally from Rajasthan, were rescued safely.
(With PTI inputs)
Accused
>> Harish Vikas Chhari, 25
>> Police custody till February 23, 2026
>> Raj Singh alias Raja Bharat – Father of victims, currently absconding
Victims
Two minor girls, aged 14 and 16, originally from Rajasthan
Legal action
FIR registered at the CBD police station under: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 143(5) and 3(5)
Immoral traffic
(Prevention) Act, 1956: Sections 4 and 5
POCSO Act: Sections 8 and 12
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