NAGPUR: The Social Security Branch (SSB) of Nagpur Crime Branch, in coordination with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly facilitating prostitution by arranging customers for a woman in exchange for money. The action was taken during a decoy operation near Chhatrapati Square on Wardha Road on Tuesday evening.

The accused has been identified as Tushar Pramod Phulkari (32), a resident of Darsh Residency, Arvi Naka, Karla Road, Wardha.

According to police, the accused allegedly lured women and girls with promises of earning substantial money in a short period and pushed them into prostitution for his financial benefit. He would arrange customers and facilitate commercial sexual activities involving them.

Acting on specific information about the racket, a team from the Social Security Department and AHTU conducted a raid at the identified location near Neeraj Decor, opposite Chhatrapati Square on Wardha Road. Two panch witnesses and a decoy customer were involved in the operation.

During the raid, the accused was allegedly caught making an adult woman available to the decoy customer for sexual services in exchange for money. The police subsequently detained him and handed him over to Rana Pratap Nagar Police Station for further legal action.

Police seized a Realme mobile phone worth approximately Rs 10,000 and Rs 2,000 in cash, collectively valued at Rs 12,000.

A case has been registered at Rana Pratap Nagar Police Station under Section 143(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of Police Inspector Darshan Patil of the Social Security Branch, Crime Branch, Nagpur.