Navi Mumbai: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Navi Mumbai crime branch rescued two Bangladeshi women from a prostitution racket after raiding a lodge in Mahape on 18 November, following a decoy operation. The police arrested three individuals—the lodge owner, manager and waiter—who were allegedly operating the illegal activity from within the premises of Harshita Inn Lodging and Boarding. The arrested accused were identified as Umesh Gupta (owner), Ankit Kumar Podar (manager) and Sameer Munda (waiter). All three were remanded to police custody till 24 November.

According to AHTU officials, two pimps identified as Raju and Abdul, who allegedly supplied the rescued Bangladeshi women for commercial sexual exploitation, are currently absconding. A search operation has been launched to trace and arrest them.

Decoy operation leads to breakthrough

Senior inspector Prithviraj Ghorpade of AHTU said the unit acted on specific intelligence that prostitution activities were being run from Harshita Inn in Mahape. The tip-off indicated that the lodge manager was offering women to customers for sexual favours at a fixed rate of ₹4,500. Acting on this information, a decoy customer was sent to verify the illegal activity.

Upon arrival, the decoy customer was shown multiple photographs of women by the manager on his mobile phone as part of the selection process. Once the ₹4,500 was collected from the decoy and a woman was brought to the room, the AHTU team immediately raided the premises.

Officials found two Bangladeshi women on the spot, both allegedly trafficked into the prostitution network. The police rescued them and took the three accused staff members into custody.

FIR registered under BNS and ITPA

Following the raid, the Rabale MIDC police station registered a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956. The charges include running a brothel, trafficking, aiding prostitution and exploiting vulnerable women for profit.

Investigators said that the involvement of multiple lodge staff indicates that the prostitution racket was not an isolated activity but a coordinated operation. The consistent supply of women through the two absconding pimps further supports this assessment.

Victims to undergo rehabilitation

Police confirmed that the rescued women have been moved to a government safe home, where they will undergo counselling, health check-ups and documentation verification. Preliminary investigation suggests that both women may have entered India illegally, facilitated by traffickers who often target impoverished families along border regions.

A senior AHTU officer said the priority now is to trace the trafficking network responsible for bringing the women into the country. Teams are trying to gather more details about their route, handlers, and possible linkage to larger cross-border human trafficking syndicates.

Lodge under scrutiny

Harshita Inn Lodging and Boarding is now under the scanner of the crime branch. Officials said they will be checking past records of suspicious activities, customer logs, and room bookings to identify if the premises have been used repeatedly for illegal activities.

Preliminary questioning of the arrested staff suggests that prostitution may have been ongoing at the lodge for some time, facilitated by a few individuals who worked closely with the pimps.

Police crackdown continues

Navi Mumbai Police have intensified efforts against human trafficking and prostitution rackets across the region, especially in industrial pockets such as Mahape, Rabale, Turbhe and parts of Airoli, which have reported increased movement of traffickers in recent months.
Senior inspector Ghorpade added that community awareness and timely tip-offs play a crucial role in uncovering such operations. He urged residents to inform police of any suspicious activity in hotels, lodges or rented apartments.

Conclusion

As the search for the two absconding pimps continues, the Navi Mumbai AHTU remains committed to dismantling the trafficking network and providing support to the rescued victims. Officials have emphasised that coordinated efforts between law enforcement, government agencies and social welfare groups are essential for curbing trafficking and ensuring effective rehabilitation for survivors.