Mumbai’s law enforcement struck a major blow against organized crime on February 28, dismantling a sex trafficking ring operating out of a Andheri East hotel. Acting on intelligence about suspicious activities at Hotel Villa Palace, officers from Santacruz police station swooped in, freeing two Ugandan women trapped in a nightmare of deception and abuse.
Deceived with offers of legitimate jobs, the 30-year-old and 36-year-old victims arrived in India only to be thrust into prostitution. Kenyan national Jasmine, the suspected mastermind, handled logistics from recruitment to customer bookings, ensuring the women had no escape.
The raid netted four arrests: hotel manager Vivekkumar Yadav, housekeeping staff Anil Pushpkar, Dhiraj Jawale, and Mahesh Rajveria. Owner Akshay Shedge and Jasmine are fugitives, prompting a widespread search aided by confiscated CCTV evidence.
Flagrant breaches of foreign guest regulations came to light—no proper records, no C-forms filed, and falsified registers omitting victim details. This points to a calculated cover-up.
Police are probing deeper, believing the operation links to broader transnational networks. ‘We won’t rest until every perpetrator is behind bars,’ affirmed a police spokesperson. This case underscores the urgent need for vigilant monitoring of hospitality venues to protect migrants from exploitation.