Vijayawada: Prostitution rackets operating under the guise of spa centres in Vijayawada have cevolved their tactics to stay ahead of police monitoring. Organisers now set up temporary spa units inside hotels, shifting locations every 7–10 days to avoid detection. This mobile approach allows discreet operations across key areas such as Governorpet, Gandhi Nagar, Moghalrajpuram, Patamata, and Guru Nanak Colony.To maintain secrecy, traffickers have abandoned traditional calls, relying instead on WhatsApp for client communication — making tracking more difficult. Locations are shared only after confirmation, and payments are processed via QR codes instead of UPI-linked transactions, ensuring greater digital anonymity.A recent police raid in Machavaram exposed one such operation, revealing a full-fledged spa setup used for illicit activities. Authorities arrested alleged organiser Pallepogu Kumar Raja, a customer, and rescued four women from north Indian states. Investigations indicate that Raja, formerly a manager at a reputed spa run by Bhargav, branched out independently, frequently booking multiple rooms in hotels to create the illusion of a legitimate spa.Hotel management, reportedly enticed by high rental returns, allegedly aided the operations. Raja also posed as a media professional to book rooms without suspicion. His network’s reliance on rotating locations, encrypted communication, and digital payments has made detection more challenging.However, NTR district police are intensifying surveillance and intelligence efforts to dismantle these illicit networks. Authorities have urged hotel operators to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities as investigations continue.
