Pune: Sex Trafficking Racket Busted in Karegaon; Seven Women Including Three Bangladeshis Rescued
Pune, 5th June 2026: A joint team of the Ranjangaon MIDC police and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) busted an alleged sex trafficking racket operating from a lodge on the Pune–Ahmednagar Highway in Karegaon village of Shirur taluka and rescued seven women, including three Bangladeshi nationals.
The police arrested one accused, identified as Lutfar Mujammalhaq Sheikh (45), a native of Hooghly in West Bengal who is currently residing in Karegaon. His alleged associate, Bablu Sahu, originally from Odisha and currently living in Karegaon, is absconding.
According to the police, information was received by Pune Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhushan Mane that foreign women were being forced into prostitution at a lodge located along the Pune–Ahmednagar Highway in Karegaon. Acting on the tip-off, teams from the Ranjangaon MIDC police station and the ATS conducted a raid on the premises.
Seven women were rescued during the operation and have been sent to a rehabilitation home for women in Mundhwa, Pune. Police said efforts are underway to trace the absconding accused.
Investigators said Bablu Sahu is a habitual offender and has previously been booked by the Ranjangaon MIDC police in a similar prostitution-related case.
The investigation is being carried out by Police Sub-Inspector Avinash Thorat under the supervision of Police Inspector Mahadev Waghmode.
In a separate operation last week, a joint team of the Daund police and the Local Crime Branch of Pune Rural police raided Relax Inn Lodging at Borawakenagar in Gopalwadi and rescued six women, including two Bangladeshi nationals. The lodge operator, Manoj Anil Pawar (35), a resident of Phaltan in Satara district, was arrested and booked under provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
The action was taken based on information received by Police Inspector Gopal Pawar, police said.
