Delhi police bust prostitution racket: two held, nine women rescued in Lajpat Nagar spas

The Delhi Police have uncovered and dismantled an alleged prostitution racket operating under the cover of spa services in southeast Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar‑I , rescuing nine women and arresting two managers, officials said on Friday. The raids on Thursday evening targeted two spa centres Vegas Spa on the ground floor and Vedika Wellness Spa on the first floor of the same building after specific intelligence about “immoral activities” was received on February 12.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said the operation followed verification of the tip‑off. “We received credible information about alleged immoral activities being carried out at these establishments. After verification, a police team conducted a raid,” he said. “During the search of the ground floor premises at Vegas Spa , five women and the manager were found, and incriminating material was recovered from a drawer at the reception counter.”

On the first floor, police found four women with the manager of Vedika Wellness Spa . “Initial questioning and the circumstances at the spot indicated that the spa services were being used as a front for prostitution,” Tiwari added.

The two managers, identified as Arnish D. Senapati alias Rahul and Vipin Vashishtha alias Ravi , were arrested on charges of facilitating and profiting from prostitution. An FIR under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act was registered on February 12. During interrogation, the accused admitted they were managing daily operations and arranging customers in exchange for money. “They collected payments from customers, retained a commission, and distributed the remaining amount among the women,” the official said, adding that misleading advertisements and word‑of‑mouth referrals were being used to attract clients. Both arrested men reportedly have no prior criminal records.

Police sources said they are examining whether there is a wider network behind the racket and if traffickers or intermediaries were involved beyond the two arrested managers. “Our focus remains on ensuring the safety of the rescued women and on tracking down anyone else associated with this illegal business,” a senior officer said.

While the Delhi Police have not yet specified whether any customers or intermediaries were detained during the operation, authorities reiterated that exploitation of women through covert prostitution rackets remains a persistent law‑and‑order concern. In recent years, similar police actions have uncovered sex rackets in spas and massage centres elsewhere in Delhi, such as at a Karol Bagh centre where eight women were rescued and managers were arrested after a decoy officer posed as a customer. In that case, officers found customers being offered sexual services for additional payments, leading to arrests under sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Experts and activists have long pointed out how unregulated spa and massage parlour services in Delhi and the wider National Capital Region have, at times, been misused to conceal prostitution rackets. Enforcement agencies have previously highlighted multiple raids and arrests in malls and standalone centres where women including minors in some cases — were trafficked or coerced into illegal activities after being brought on the pretext of legitimate work.

Police said the investigation into the Lajpat Nagar racket is ongoing, with teams working to determine all individuals and channels connected to the operation. Authorities stressed that under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, organised prostitution, brothel‑keeping and provision of persons for prostitution are offences meant to curb exploitation and trafficking.