Pune Crime Branch Busts Prostitution Racket Near Navale Bridge, 9 Women Rescued
Narhe, 21st July 2026: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Pune Crime Branch rescued nine women and arrested two persons during a raid on two lodges near Navale Bridge in Ambegaon Budruk after receiving a tip-off about an alleged prostitution racket operating from the premises.
According to Pune City Police, the AHTU received confidential information on July 20 that women were being exploited for prostitution at Sai Kiran Lodge near Navale Bridge on the Katraj-Ambegaon Road. Acting on the input, the police first verified the information by deploying a decoy customer before conducting simultaneous surprise raids at Sai Kiran Lodge and Galaxy Lodge. During the operation, nine women were rescued.
Police arrested Rakesh Raju Patole (27), a rickshaw driver from Dhayari, and Mangesh Vyankat Bansode, the manager of Galaxy Lodge, for their alleged involvement in the illegal activities. Police said another accused is also under investigation in connection with the case.
An FIR has been registered at Ambegaon Police Station under Crime No. 312/2026. The case has been booked under Sections 143(1) and 143(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Tejaswi Satpute and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gauhar Hasan. The raid was led by Police Inspector Ashalata Khapre, assisted by Assistant Police Inspector Vikram Misal and personnel from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.
