Nagpur: As part of “Operation Shakti” aimed at dismantling human trafficking and organised sexual exploitation networks, the Nagpur City Crime Branch’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) arrested a couple for allegedly forcing women into prostitution in the Pachpaoli area and rescued two victims.
Police said the operation was conducted on February 9, 2026, between 1.40 pm and 9.30 pm, after receiving specific information that two individuals were facilitating prostitution at a public place near Bharat Petrol Pump on the road leading towards Rani Durgavati Square, under Pachpaoli police station limits.
Following the tip-off, the Crime Branch team laid a trap and apprehended the suspects on an Activa 6G scooter. The arrested accused were identified as Tausif Niyaz Qureshi (26) and Zoya Tausif Qureshi alias Makhani Ram Mishra, residents of Panchsheel Nagar, Pachpaoli. During interrogation, they revealed that they were operating the racket in collusion with another accused, Komal Nitin Pawar, a resident of Uppalwadi, Nagpur.
Police said the accused were arranging locations for prostitution and forcing the victims into the flesh trade for financial gain. Two women were rescued from their custody during the raid.
From the accused, police seized an Activa 6G scooter (MH-49-BQ-0782), six mobile phones of different companies, ₹4,500 in cash and other materials, collectively valued at approximately ₹1.04 lakh.
A case has been registered at Pachpaoli police station under Section 143(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The accused have been handed over to Pachpaoli police for further legal action. Search for the absconding accused is underway and further investigation is in progress.
The successful operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Ravindrakumar Singal, Additional Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP (Detection) Rahul Maknikar, and ACP (Crime Branch) Abhijit Patil, by AHTU officer Lalita Todase and her team.
