Nagpur: A couple operating a sex racket out of a residential flat in Vishakha Apartment near Kharbi Chowk, under Nandanvan Police Station limits, was busted by Nagpur Police on Wednesday, April 9. One woman who was forced into prostitution was rescued during the operation.

The arrested accused have been identified as Govind Komal Bhargav (32) his wife Pooja alias Janhavi, both residents of Flat No. 102, Vishakha Apartment, Plot No. 17, Second Floor, Kharbi Chowk, Wathoda Ring Road, currently residing at Flat No. 003, Gate No. 2, Building No. 337, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, opposite Symbiosis College, Wathoda.

Police said the couple lured the victim with promises of high monetary returns and then pushed her into prostitution for their own financial benefit. They also provided the location— a private flat — to carry out the illegal activity. Acting on a tip-off, the Nandanvan Police raided the premises and rescued the woman. Items worth Rs 39,144 were seized from the spot.

A case has been registered against the couple under Sections 143(3), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)and Sections 4, 5, and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

The action was conducted under the supervision of Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint Commissioner Nisar Tamboli, Additional CP (Crime) Sanjay Patil, DCP (Crime) Rahul Makanikar, and ACP (Crime) Abhijeet Patil.

The raid was successfully carried out by PI Kavita Isarkar and her team comprising Prakash Mathankar, Laxman Chaure, Ajay Paunikar, Nitin Vasane, Sameer Shaikh, Kunal Masram, Lata Gawai, and driver Kamlesh Kshirsagar.