CCB busts another prostitution racket, rescues 44 women

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of police busted a prostitution racket, which was allegedly operating in the city under the pretext of a spa lounge, during a raid at a multi-storied building in Mahadevapura here.

The CCB sleuths conducted raids at several places in Bengaluru on Saturday based on credible information from the state intelligence.

Earlier, a case had been registered at the Mahadevapura Police Station in connection with a human trafficking racket.

Intensifying a probe into the matter, the CCB officials identified several places and raided them. The racket was busted when the police searched a multi-storeyed building in Mahadevapura.

A total of 44 women, belonging to Karnataka and other places including foreign nations, were rescued, the police said.

Following the operation, the Mahadevapura police took 34 people into custody and arrested the main accused, identified as Anil.

A senior official said that the officers of CCB's Women's Protection Wing conducted the raid for about four hours late on Saturday night in the said building after receiving a tip-off about the illegal racket.

According to sources, Anil was running the fake spa business on the first and sixth floors of the building.

During investigations, the accused revealed that young women from the state and outside the country were forced to get involved in the flesh trade.

The police added that the main accused shifted to Bengaluru from another state and was running the spa.

A month ago, an under-trial prisoner, who was also running a prostitution racket in Bengaluru from Parappana Agrahara jail, was arrested by the police along with three others.

The police arrested Manjunath alias Sanju, who was lodged at the Parappana Agrahara jail here.

Sanju, his accomplices Arun, Raghavendra and Darshan were also arrested for their role in running the prostitution racket, sources said. Sanju used to connect with clients through an app while still in jail.