Navi Mumbai: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Navi Mumbai Police raided the New 7 Star Lodging in APMC on Wednesday night and rescued three women who had been trafficked for prostitution.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the hotel manager, the cook, and a broker who were involved in the sex racket. Authorities are now in search of another broker who was supplying the women for the sex trade.

The AHTU received information about the hotel manager facilitating prostitution at the New 7 Star Lodging by showing prospective customers a selection of women and girls.

Under the guidance of Assistant Police Commissioner Dharmapal Bansode, Senior Police Inspector Prithviraj Ghorpade and his team sent a decoy customer to the hotel on Wednesday night.

During the operation, Kumar Gowda, the hotel's cook, showed photos of women on his mobile phone to the decoy customer. The decoy then selected three women, who were subsequently brought to the hotel. Afterward, Gowda accepted Rs 5,000 from the decoy customer and sent the chosen woman for prostitution.

Acting on a pre-arranged signal, the AHTU team raided the hotel, finding three women and young girls who had been trafficked for prostitution. The raid led to the arrest of Bunty Sahu, the hotel manager, Kumar Gowda, the cook, and Tara Pada Das, the broker responsible for supplying women for the sex trade. The three women were rescued during the operation.

“We are now pursuing another suspect, identified as Vicky, who is yet to be apprehended for his involvement in the trafficking operation,” said a police officer from crime branch.