Two Ahmedabad spas busted for alleged prostitution Rackets, owners absconding

In back-to-back operations, Ahmedabad police raided two spas, one in Ambawadi under Ellisbridge Police Station and another in the Bopal-Ambli area under Sarkhej Police Station, uncovering alleged prostitution rackets running under the guise of massage services.

In both cases, the spa owners were found absconding, while managers and women working at the establishments were questioned and booked under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Lemon Ayurvedic Spa, Ambawadi

The Ellisbridge Police have booked the operator of a spa in Ambawadi after a raid allegedly uncovered prostitution activities being carried out under the guise of massage services. The owner, identified as Pooja Makhija, is currently absconding.

Ellisbridge Police received specific information that Lemon Ayurvedic Spa, located on the first floor of Shri Krishna Complex on Bhudarpura Road, was allegedly providing sexual services to customers in exchange for money.

Acting on the tip-off, Ellisbridge police formed a team with a decoy customer and sent him inside the spa. Minutes later, the raiding team entered the premises.

Inside the spa, officers found a reception hall with sofas and partitions leading to two rooms. At the counter sat Pooja Amitrai Diliprai (45), who identified herself as the manager but admitted that the spa was operated by owner Pooja Makhija, who was not present.

When police opened the door to one of the rooms, they allegedly found the decoy customer and a woman in a compromising state. Shabina reportedly told police that she was working at the spa on the instructions of Pooja Makhija.  No other staff or customers were present at the time. ₹18,800 cash was seized. 

The police stated in the complaint that the facility was being used to run a brothel, and that women were being lured and made to engage in sexual activities for the financial gain of the spa operator. The spa owner, Pooja Nareshkumar Makhija, has been named as the prime accused and declared wanted.

A case has been registered under Sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and further investigation is on.

Zero Spa, ISKCON-Ambli Road

A late-evening raid by the Sarkhej police on Tuesday led to the busting of an alleged prostitution racket operating under the guise of a spa in the Bopal-Ambli area. Officers said the Zero Spa, located at 205, Oneworld West Complex, ISKCON-Ambli Road, had been recruiting women, soliciting customers, and running a brothel while claiming to offer body–massage services.

On November 25, the spa owner, Tina alias Kavya Jagdishbhai Mehta, a resident of Narol, was not present at the premises during the raid. Police allege that Mehta rented women for sex work, paying them ₹1,000 per customer, and arranged male clients from outside.

The police received information from a private informant around 6.10 pm that prostitution was taking place inside the spa. A raid was organised immediately, involving officers from Sarkhej Police Station, two panch witnesses, and a dummy customer.

The dummy customer was instructed to request a woman for services from the spa manager and inform the police once a deal was struck. He later called the raiding team, confirming that a woman had been offered to him.

When police entered the premises, they found Saudmiya Sheikh (29), the spa manager, at the reception desk. A search of the reception counter yielded ₹7,500 in cash, the numbers of the notes matching those given to the dummy customer. Officers also seized a CCTV DVR belonging to AJHUA Technology and an electricity bill, with the total seizure valued at ₹11,500.

Police said the spa contained seven rooms, including five designated massage rooms. In Room No. 2, officers found their dummy customer with a woman. Cash amounting to ₹8,000, with note numbers matching the dummy currency, was recovered from her phone cover.

Three additional women were found inside other rooms, who were aged between 23 to 31. The women told police that they worked at the spa from 11 am to 10 pm daily, were paid ₹10,000 a month, and charged customers ₹2,000 per service, half of which was collected by manager Saud Sheikh on behalf of the owner.

The raid was conducted under Section of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Based on the findings, police have booked:

• Tina, alias Kavya Jagdishbhai Mehta (owner), absconding
• Saudmiya Akbarmiya Sheikh (29) (manager)

Police said the accused were taken into custody, and further investigation is ongoing.