Special Correspondent
Pune: In a shocking revelation, the Pune Police have uncovered a prostitution racket operating under the guise of a spa center at Porwal Road in Dhanori, where minor girls were coerced into sex work. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Pune Crime Branch conducted a raid on Monday, July 7, 2025, rescuing five female victims, including two minors, from the illicit operation at Lux Spa Center. A 28-year-old woman, identified as Kiran Baburao Ade alias Anuradha Baburao Ade, the spa manager, has been arrested in connection with the case.
Acting on a tip-off, the AHTU sent decoy customers to verify the illegal activities at the spa, located in the IG Dham building in Dhanori. The investigation confirmed that prostitution was being conducted under the pretext of massage services. A team led by Senior Police Inspector Ashalata Khapre, accompanied by witnesses, raided the premises and rescued the five victims. The rescued girls, including two minors, were found to have been lured into prostitution with promises of substantial financial rewards.
According to police reports, the accused spa manager, Kiran Baburao Ade, exploited the victims by forcing them into sex work and profiting from the earnings to sustain her livelihood. The rescued girls have been safely handed over to the Child Welfare Committee for their protection and rehabilitation. A case has been registered at the Vimantal Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). The complaint was filed by Police Constable Reshma Kank.
The police are now investigating whether others were involved in the racket and who supplied clients to the spa. “We received credible information about prostitution being conducted under the cover of massage services at the spa. Our team conducted a raid, rescued five victims, including two minor girls, and arrested the spa manager. Further investigations are underway to uncover any additional accomplices,” said Senior Police Inspector Ashalata Khapre.
This incident is part of a series of crackdowns on prostitution rackets disguised as spa centers in Pune.
Recent reports indicate similar operations busted in areas like Baner, Viman Nagar, and Koregaon Park, with 23 women, including foreign nationals and minors, rescued in coordinated raids across the city on July 7-8, 2025. The recurring nature of such cases has raised concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable women and minors in upscale areas of Pune, often under the pretext of legitimate businesses like spas and massage parlors.
The police have intensified efforts to combat human trafficking and are urging residents to report suspicious activities. The investigation is ongoing to identify other potential suspects and ensure justice for the victims. Community leaders and activists have called for stricter regulations on spa centers to prevent such exploitation in the future.
