Police have busted a high-profile prostitution racket operating under the guise of a spa centre in the upscale Pal area of Surat, Gujarat. Five people were arrested during a raid, while four women were rescued and shifted to a shelter home.

The racket was allegedly being run from “99 Spa”, located in Room No. 311 of Raj World Shopping Centre. Acting on a specific tip-off, police formed a special team and conducted a surprise raid, uncovering what officials described as a “well-organised and corporate-style operation”.

Corporate-Style Modus Operandi

According to the police, the spa had installed CCTV cameras at the entrance to monitor movement and receive advance alerts in case of police activity. Investigators found that customers were issued tokens, and details of transactions were meticulously recorded in a diary, indicating systematic and planned illegal activity.

The sophisticated setup initially disguised the illegal operation as a legitimate wellness centre, police said.

Arrests and Seizures

Police arrested the spa’s manager Shunvaro Baburao Chakraborty and his assistant Vipin alias Rinku Jagdish Shahu from the spot. Three customers—Karan Deepak Shah, Veersingh Shantiji Koli, and Umesh Dilip Sharma—were also taken into custody.

The spa’s owner, Akash Ankush Dhanawade, was not present during the raid and has been declared absconding. Police teams have been formed to trace and arrest him.

During the search, police seized:

• Seven mobile phones allegedly used for coordinating prostitution

• Eleven mobile phones belonging to customers

• ₹63,000 in cash

• Tokens and an account register documenting transactions

Women Rescued, Probe Expanded

Of the four women rescued, three are from West Bengal and one from Kolkata, police said. All have been sent to a women’s protection home, and counselling procedures have been initiated.

Police are now investigating how the women were brought to Surat, whether coercion or trafficking networks were involved, and if similar operations are running in other parts of the city.

Officials said further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.