The Ahmedabad Police made a significant move on Friday, raiding a spa in Vastrapur and uncovering what officials are calling an illegal prostitution racket disguised as massage services.
This operation took place at a spa located within the Himalaya Mall, following a tip-off regarding suspicious activities. Acting on a complaint from a police sub-inspector at the Women Police Station West, authorities filed a case under relevant sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
According to reports, the spa was allegedly managed by 34-year-old Irshad S Syed. It’s claimed he facilitated prostitution by recruiting women from outside Gujarat to serve customers for cash.
To confirm these allegations, police dispatched a decoy customer. Once verified, they entered the premises with a team of officers and witnesses to conduct the raid. Inside, they found three women and one staff member named Sunny Santosh from Uttar Pradesh.
The women were reportedly hired by the management and revealed they received around ₹1,000 for each customer they entertained. The establishment featured several rooms designed for massage services, including dedicated cabins.
However, Syed was not present during the raid and is currently evading capture. Authorities have initiated efforts to locate him. During their investigation, police seized important electronic evidence including a digital video recorder.
A formal case has been lodged against those involved under provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956. The rescued women are now undergoing counseling as part of legal protocols while investigations continue into identifying other participants in this alleged racket and gauging its scale in Ahmedabad.