In a significant development against digital crimes, the Goa Crime Branch has dismantled an inter-state prostitution ring, apprehending three individuals responsible for managing websites that distributed sexually explicit content. The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Social Media Monitoring Cell, led to the shutdown of 22 illicit escort sites. Following thorough surveillance, an FIR was filed on March 9 under relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women’s Act.
Superintendent of Police (Crime/Cyber Crime) Rahul Gupta disclosed that technical investigations pinpointed Narayan Rao, a resident of Shivamogga, Karnataka, as the main operator. Subsequent raids in Nerul and Bardez in Goa resulted in the arrest of three suspects on March 14. The apprehended individuals include the alleged mastermind, V. Narayan Rao (40), Shahbaz Khan (33) from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and Manjunath Shahshetty (36) from Bidar, Karnataka.
During the operation, law enforcement seized a laptop and five mobile phones, one of which was directly connected to the website. Further scrutiny of the suspects’ bank accounts unveiled a money trail through Google Pay and UPI transactions made by victims. “The accused were found to be financially supported by proceeds from prostitution,” stated SP Gupta.
Consequently, charges under Section 4 of the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act (ITPA) were pressed. Interrogations revealed that Rao’s network extended to cities beyond Goa, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur, and Delhi. Authorities have frozen a bank account linked to the main suspect, containing Rs 2.34 lakh. The investigation, spearheaded by SP Jivba Dalvi and overseen by SP Gupta, continues as efforts are made to identify more victims and track the syndicate’s financial dealings.
The accused have been remanded in three-day police custody for further interrogation to gather additional information about the gang and its activities.
