Mumbai, May 21: The Amboli Police in Mumbai have busted an online sex racket operating out of the Andheri area, leading to the arrest of a 28-year-old man allegedly running the illegal operation, officials said on Wednesday.

A 30-year-old woman, believed to have been forced into prostitution, was rescued during the operation.

The accused has been identified as Sarfaraz alias Mohammad Gulab Phoolbabu Sheikh, a resident of Versova in Andheri.

According to police, Sarfaraz was using mobile phones and messaging apps like WhatsApp to operate the racket, offering women to clients at various hotels, lodges, and guest houses across the city based on demand.

Police launched an undercover operation following a tip-off. A decoy customer contacted Sarfaraz, who then shared several photographs of women via WhatsApp for selection. Once a woman was chosen, the financial deal was also finalised over the phone.

As per the plan, Sarfaraz was asked to bring the woman to a hotel on Veera Desai Road in Andheri. When he arrived at the hotel with the woman and began negotiating with the fake client, police officers who were already stationed nearby swooped in and detained him for questioning.

During preliminary interrogation, the rescued woman told police that Sarfaraz had brought her to the hotel for prostitution. She was immediately taken for a medical check-up and later sent to a private rescue and rehabilitation centre in Kandivali for further care.

Police have registered a case against Sarfaraz under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA).

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the scale of the operation and identify others who may be involved in the sex racket.

Officials said more arrests are likely as the accused is being interrogated for details on his network, including customers, others, and women who may have been trafficked or coerced into the trade.

Raipur, May 20: The investigators in Chhattisgarh have ramped up efforts to uncover the details of a massive liquor scam, estimated to be worth Rs 2,000 crore.

The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have launched a series of coordinated raids across multiple districts, including Durg-Bhilai and Mahasamund.

Reports suggest that enforcement teams are actively conducting operations at 22 locations in Durg-Bhilai, after arriving in Bhilai on Tuesday morning in four vehicles.

Additional searches are underway in Sankara and Basna within the Mahasamund district, focusing on individuals closely associated with former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, sources said.

The authorities have expanded their scrutiny to business establishments, with EOW teams inspecting the residences of individuals suspected of involvement in the scam.

The investigation has widened to the Mahasamund district, where the enforcement teams had raided the premises of a businessman and an LIC agent believed to be linked to the illicit liquor trade.

The ACB and EOW teams have executed searches at more than 20 locations across the state, targeting key figures involved in the operation.

The investigation has caused a significant stir, with officials continuing to uncover crucial evidence.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma on January 15 after multiple rounds of interrogation.

The ACB and EOW registered an FIR in January 2024 based on a letter from the Enforcement Directorate.

Recent findings indicate that the scam, which allegedly took place between 2019 and 2022, resulted in substantial financial losses to the state exchequer while generating illegal profits exceeding Rs 2,100 crore.

The syndicate behind the scam reportedly includes senior bureaucrats, politicians, and excise department officials.

The authorities have confiscated cash, electronic devices, bank records, and land investment documents from suspects’ residences earlier. The investigation remains active as officials work to expose the full extent of the fraudulent activities.

Mumbai, May 17: In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, arrested a Chadian national who arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) from Addis Ababa, after seizing 4,015 grams of gold worth Rs 3.86 crore ingeniously concealed in the heels of his slippers.

Acting on specific Intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the male passenger shortly after his arrival in Mumbai. Upon conducting a personal search, the officers discovered multiple foreign-origin gold bars cleverly hidden inside the modified heels of the man’s slippers.

In his voluntary statement recorded by officials, the Chadian national admitted to concealing the gold in this unusual manner to bypass customs checks and evade legal detection. The gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the passenger was placed under arrest.

Officials stated that further investigations are underway to trace the origin and intended recipients of the smuggled consignment and to determine if the incident is linked to a broader smuggling network.

This seizure adds to a growing list of recent smuggling attempts intercepted by vigilant DRI officials.

In an earlier case from April 2025, DRI Mumbai had seized foreign-origin gold worth Rs 6.30 crore from a passenger who had arrived at CSMIA from Bangkok. The gold, hidden in specially designed compartments of the passenger’s luggage, was also seized under the Customs Act, with the individual arrested immediately.

The DRI continues to maintain a strict vigil at international entry points, using a combination of Intelligence gathering and surveillance to thwart attempts at smuggling precious metals and other contraband. The agency reiterated its commitment to cracking down on such offenses, which pose a serious threat to economic stability and border security.