Gujarat Police Rescue Four Women in Raids on Alleged Prostitution Rackets at Marriage Bureau, Spa

The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) conducted the operations and registered cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, police said on Tuesday.

The raids were carried out on October 26 following directions from senior officials to identify and investigate suspected prostitution activities.

Raid at Marriage Bureau

In the first operation, the AHTU team raided an office at No. 207, Gururaksha Complex, near Virani Chowk, within the jurisdiction of Rajkot's A-Division police station.

Police said they acted on information that the premises were being used for prostitution under the cover of a marriage bureau. After verifying the information, the team deployed a decoy customer and arranged for two independent witnesses to be present before conducting the raid.

According to the police, the operators allegedly brought women from outside and arranged customers in exchange for money. The marriage bureau operator allegedly charged each customer Rs 1,000 before directing them to a separate office within the premises for sexual services.

Police identified two people found at the location as Jayashriben, also known as Minaben, 51, and Meet Pujara, 22. Both are residents of Sharda Apartment on Kothariya Road in Rajkot.

One woman was rescued from the premises. The team seized Rs 3,400 in cash, 20 packets of plastic condoms valued at Rs 400, torn condom wrappers and a mobile phone worth Rs 5,000. The total value of the seized items was estimated at Rs 8,800.

A case was registered against the accused under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Three Women Rescued From Wellness Spa

In the second operation, police raided Florence Wellness Spa, located in Office No. 501 on the fifth floor of Cosmo Complex at Mahila College Chowk on Kalawad Road. The premises also fall within the jurisdiction of the A-Division police station.

The raid followed verification of information alleging that prostitution was being facilitated at the spa under the cover of massage services. As in the first operation, the team deployed a decoy customer and called two independent witnesses before entering the premises.

Police alleged that customers were charged an entry fee of Rs 1,000, followed by an additional Rs 2,500 for what was described as an “extra service”. The operator allegedly arranged sexual services involving women for financial gain.

Three women were rescued during the operation. Police seized Rs 7,210 in cash and two mobile phones valued at Rs 10,000, bringing the total value of the seized property to Rs 17,210.

A case was registered against Ganesh Meena, 23, who works at the spa and is a resident of Ghatiphala Sasai in Rajasthan's Udaipur district. The case was filed under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

Police said legal proceedings had been initiated in both cases.