Police have rescued a television and web series actor from a prostitution ring being operated in a hotel in Maharashtra’s Thane.
A female handler has been arrested, and a search for her male accomplice is underway. Two others have been arrested. Based on this information, the police team, using a fake customer and witnesses, set up a trap. During the raid, Qureshi was caught red-handed accepting a prearranged amount for the racket. Police took her into custody with evidence and cash. The rescued actor has been sent to the Rescue Foundation in Kandivali, Mumbai, for protection and care. The operation was carried out by a team led by Police Inspector Sheetal Munde, including Sub-Inspector Sandeep Shinde, ASI R.K. Asavale, Kishore Patil, Policemen Chetan Singh Rajput, Sheetal Jadhav, Lalit Patil, Ghanshyam Khairnar, Pragya Chavan, and MSF Jawan Sonawane.
The raid took place at around 6 pm on October 8, 2026, in the waiting room of Naivedya Lodging and Boarding on Mira Road. They have registered a case under Section 143 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS), 2023, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (PITA), 1956. Earlier reporting noted: TV actor rescued from human trafficking, prostitution racket in Thane Police have rescued a 35-year-old TV actor after busting an alleged human trafficking and prostitution racket that forced women from the entertainment industry into the flesh trade in Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Sunday. Earlier reporting noted: Acting on a tip-off received from an NGO, the police sent a decoy customer to a hotel on Mira-Bhayander Road on October 8. They later conducted a raid there and caught a woman, identified as Tabassum alias Sonia Umar Qureshi (39), accepting money for allegedly forcing women into prostitution, a police release said.
Police said the sex racket specifically targeted women in the entertainment industry, particularly those involved in television serials, web series, or photoshoots. Earlier reporting noted: A woman has been arrested in this connection, while a search is underway for her male associate, they said.
