Paradip: Police have uncovered a prostitution racket operating under the guise of a spa at Tarenigada along the Cuttack-Paradip highway in Odisha.
Four clients, including three crew members of a vessel berthed at Paradip Port for diesel export from the IOCL refinery, were arrested on Saturday. They have been identified as Pawan Kumar Lalmani Kashyap, Vikas Kumar Gupta and Aman Zikriya Walele of MV Hari Anand, hailing from Maharashtra, Bihar, and Rajasthan, respectively. The fourth accused is an employee of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), TNIE reported, quoting police.
Nine women, primarily from West Bengal, were also rescued during the operation. However, the spa owner, Sheikh Badru, and three other clients managed to escape.
The racket allegedly targeted employees of government agencies, private firms, and vessel crews. The owner used WhatsApp, Facebook, and unsolicited messages with rate cards and packages to lure clients.
A case has been filed under the BNS and Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act and efforts are on to nab the spa owner.