Married couple arrested in online prostitution racket

The Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Navi Mumbai police on Thursday busted an online prostitution racket with the arrest of three, including a married couple suspected to be the racket’s mastermind.

According to the police, a team headed by ACP Nitin Kausadikar and DCP Dilip Sawant, was conducting routine checks for online prostitution rackets in the area when they came across an advertisement titled ‘Call Tina — Independent VIP model escort in all of Vashi, Nerul’.

Disguised as a customer, the AHTU team dialled the number mentioned in the advertisement. A woman answered the call and introduced herself as Tina. The woman was later identified as Renu Navinkumar Yadav. “When we called up at the number and made our demand, the woman asked the fake customer to meet near DY Patil stadium. When we reached the spot, we received another call. We were informed that a certain Santosh Yadav, along with a sex worker, would meet us,” said an officer.

“The moment Santosh reached the spot, our officers nabbed him and rescued the woman. We began investigations and it was soon revealed that Renu and her husband Navin were behind the racket,” said an officer.

He added that the couple had met each other around a year ago in a spa where the woman was an employee. “The two got married and began the sex racket. Soon, Navin’s friend Santosh joined their business. They set up the website and ran a prostitution den. They advertised and supplied women to whoever contacted them,” added the officer.

The officer further said investigations are on and they are trying to find out whether minor girls were involved in the racket.