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Spa Manager Acquitted: No Evidence of Trafficking Found
7 Feb
Summary
- Court acquitted spa manager due to insufficient evidence.
- No victims were examined to prove trafficking or prostitution charges.
- Essential elements for trafficking offenses were not proven.
A spa manager in Thane was acquitted of charges related to running a prostitution racket and trafficking women. The sessions court determined on January 28, 2026, that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges stemmed from a December 9, 2020, raid by Thane police on a spa following a tip-off about alleged illegal activities. While the manager was arrested the following day, the trial faced significant evidentiary challenges. The court observed that crucial testimonies from alleged victims were missing, and statements from women engaged in services did not indicate coercion.
Judge GT Pawar highlighted that essential components for trafficking under IPC Section 370, such as recruitment or exploitation, were not proven. Similarly, no material supported claims of managing a brothel or profiting from prostitution under the PITA Act, leading to the accused's acquittal.
