Pune: Two Women Rescued, Alleged Broker Arrested in Prostitution Racket Bust at Katraj Lodge
Katraj, 18th July 2026: The Bharati Vidyapeeth Police rescued two women from another state who were allegedly confined and forced into prostitution during a raid at a lodge in Katraj. A 22-year-old alleged broker has been arrested, while police are searching for other suspects believed to be involved in the racket.
According to the police, they received specific information that a prostitution racket was being operated from Kinara Lodge in Katraj. The accused allegedly contacted customers through WhatsApp, sending them photographs of women and asking them to select one before arranging meetings at the lodge.
To verify the information, a police team, under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Manasing Patil, deployed a decoy customer. After the alleged broker instructed the decoy to visit the lodge, the police conducted a raid following a pre-arranged signal.
During the operation, police rescued two women from another state who were allegedly being confined and forced into prostitution. A preliminary investigation revealed that two to three persons were involved in operating the racket.
Police arrested the alleged broker, identified as Tukaram Datta Manale (22). Efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused, and further investigation is in progress.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Manasing Patil by a team led by Police Sub-Inspector Nilesh Mokashi, along with Rahul Shedge, Sachin Sarpale, Nilesh Khermode, Mitesh Chormole, Abhinay Chaudhary, Sagar Borge, Soham Shendkar, Mangesh Gaikwad, Kiran Sabale, Tukaram Sutar, Sandeep Agale, Mangesh Pawar, Sonam Kamathe, and Shraddha Yadav.
