SOCIAL Security Branch (SSB) of the City Police busted a prostitution racket and rescued a young woman after raiding Gabru Unisex Salon at Ambedkar Chowk in Lakadganj area Wednesday evening. Cops arrested a couple for operating the sex racket under the garb of a beauty saloon and spa. The accused have been identified as Nitin Sanjay Pawar (26), a resident of Sanjay Gandhi Nagar slums, Hudkeshwar and Neelam alias Nisha Sanju Banode (35), a resident of Juni Shukrawari, Sakkardara. Acting on a tip off, Crime Branch officers sent a decoy customer to Gabru Unisex Saloon.

 

Nitin Pawar and Neelam Banode took Rs 3,000 from him and provided him with a young woman. After the decoy customer confirmed that the sex racket was being operated by the couple, he signalled the officer in-charge of the SSB team. Soon, the SSB team raided the saloon and took Nitin Pawar and Neelam Banode into custody. Cops seized Rs 3000, three cellphones and other material worth Rs 58,250. A case under Sections 4, 5 and 7 of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) was registered against Nitin Pawar and Neelam Banode. The raid was conducted by PI Kavita Isarkar and her team under the supervision of Addl CP (Crime) Sanjay Patil, DCP (Detection) Nimit Goyal and ACP (Crime) Dr Abhijeet Patil.