Nagpur, India: A prostitution racket operating under the guise of a massage parlour was busted by the Ganeshpeth Police on Saturday evening. The parlour, located at Rahul Complex II near the Ganeshpeth inter-district bus stand, was found to be running illegal activities in the name of salon and spa services.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Senior Inspector Sanjay Mendhe conducted a raid and arrested the main accused, Pranay Ganvir, who was allegedly operating the racket. Two women, hailing from Ramtek and Chandrapur, were rescued during the operation and have been shifted to a government shelter for protection and rehabilitation.

According to police, the accused lured customers using a mobile directory application that advertised “expert female masseurs.” He would then contact potential clients directly, offering services and charging up to ₹4,000 per visit. In some cases, he falsely claimed the women were underage to attract higher-paying clients. Walk-in customers from the nearby bus stand were also targeted.

One of the rescued women had come to Nagpur to pursue a beauty course, while the other was seeking employment. Both were reportedly misled into the racket under the pretext of legitimate job opportunities.

Police officials have launched a further investigation into the case and are trying to identify if others were involved in the operation. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on such illegal activities and protecting vulnerable women from exploitation.