Anti-human trafficking unit bust prostitution racket operating from Vanasthalipuram lodge

The AHTU received information that some persons were running a prostitution racket from Manohar Lodge in Vanasthalipuram. The Unit along with the Vanasthalipuram police raided the lodge on 19 June and arrested Jalasuprathu Naga Chandra Sekhar, Baluboyina Guraiah, and Nampally Rameshwar, the owner of the lodge. They also found a customer, Gattu Ram Mohan, in one of the rooms with a woman. Mohan was arrested and the woman, rescued.

The police found that Sekhar and Guraiah were running the racket with the help of the lodge owner. They had booked a room at the lodge for Rs. 16,000 per month. The cops also seized cash worth Rs. 5,500 and six cell phones from the accused persons. Later, the police arrested another accused, Shilpi Barman, from her residence in Madhapur.

Sekhar, a resident of Guntur district in AP, moved to Hyderabad three years ago. Due to financial problems, he started luring women who were in financial trouble into the prostitution racket. Meanwhile, Guraiah who is from Kadappa worked in various lodges in Hyderabad. The two became acquainted two months ago. They decided to book a room in a lodge to run their prostitution racket.

Sekhar and Guraiah sent photos of the victim to customers through WhatsApp. Customers would then call Manohar Lodge. The gang collected Rs. 2,000 from each customer and paid Rs. 500 to the victim. On 18 June, Rameshwar, the owner of Manohar Lodge, contacted the duo and agreed to rent them a room for Rs. 16,000. On the same day, Shilpi sent the victim to Manohar lodge. The AHTU team raided the lodge on Saturday and arrested the accused persons.