Nagpur: Sadar police arrested a 39-year-old woman for allegedly running a prostitution racket under the guise of a spa centre in the Mangalwari Bazaar area of Nagpur and rescued three women during a raid on October 15.

Acting on confidential information received by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Annapurna Singh, Sadar police conducted a raid at Velina Thai and Hammam Spa, located in the Ryan Tower building, between 3.45 pm and 6.30 pm.

During the operation, the police allegedly caught the accused, identified as Lalpekmawai Tailbakka, a resident of Saiha district in Mizoram, facilitating prostitution for financial gain. According to the police, she allegedly lured women with promises of money and arranged premises and customers to run the illegal activity under the cover of a spa centre.

Three women were rescued from the premises. The police seized cash worth ₹32,000, a scanner machine used to receive payments from customers, an iPhone, a digital video recorder (DVR), a monitor and other materials. The total value of the seized property was estimated at ₹77,500.

A case has been registered against the accused at Sadar police station under Section 143(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The accused has been arrested, and further investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP Annapurna Singh and Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Gaikwad, with Senior Police Inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar, Police Sub-Inspector Niketan Killedar and their team participating in the raid.