10 rescued as Delhi Police bust interstate spa trafficking racket

Delhi Police have busted an interstate human-trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in luring vulnerable women and girls through social media on the pretext of offering lucrative jobs at spa centres, rescuing 10 victims from Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, an officer said on Wednesday, August 12.

The investigation began after a 15-year-old girl went missing from Dakshin Puri on May 9, with a case registered at the Ambedkar Nagar police station following a complaint from her mother.

"During the probe, a team found that the girl was allegedly contacted through social media and lured with promises of a well-paying job and better lifestyle, before being taken out of Delhi," a senior police officer said.

Technical surveillance and analysis of digital evidence revealed the girl had been taken to Mundra in Gujarat. A police team travelled there in a private vehicle and, with the local police's assistance, rescued her from a spa operating out of a hotel in Mundra, Kutch.

The spa's owner, Damani Sushil Haresh, alias Sushil, 31, and receptionist Lakshay, 20, were apprehended along with two juveniles.

Further investigation led police to Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, where seven girls were rescued from a spa centre and two alleged operators, Monu Sharma and Sanjeev Maurya, were arrested. Two more girls were subsequently rescued from a premises in Delhi's Ganesh Nagar, where a 27-year-old woman allegedly running the operation was arrested.

"The accused allegedly identified vulnerable girls through social media platforms and personal contacts, before promising them attractive salaries, accommodation and employment at spa centres," the officer said.

Police said the victims were allegedly taken from Delhi to different states and handed over to spa operators associated with the syndicate, which had recruiters, coordinators, transporters and spa operators working in coordination for financial gain.

Besides the six arrested accused, Vinay, alias Mahadev, has been identified as a Delhi-based coordinator who allegedly arranged transportation, accommodation and logistics. One associate, Prince, who allegedly facilitated transportation of victims, remains absconding.

Police said three juveniles were apprehended during the operation, of whom two were treated as victims based on their statements, following which a separate FIR was registered and an investigation taken up.