Man held in Nagpur for supplying woman for sex work, MD drugs seized

The Social Security Department and the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) carried out a major operation in the Ajni police station area of Nagpur and arrested a young man. He is accused of supplying women for sex work and of allegedly selling MD drugs. Police recovered 3.610 grams of MD powder, cash, an Activa scooter and two mobile phones from him, together worth Rs 1,18,600.

Police identified the arrested accused as Manthan Gopal Thote (23), a resident of Chandramani Nagar, Gali No. 7, Ajni, Nagpur. Kunal Yashwant Yelekar, a resident of Durga Nagar, Nagpur, has been named as a wanted accused in the case and is still being searched for.

The Social Security Department had received information that the accused lured women and young girls into sex work by promising them quick money, and also arranged clients. Acting on this information, a police team, with the help of two witnesses and a decoy client, laid a trap. On the evening of September 16, 2026, at around 6.55 pm, the team carried out the operation on the public road in front of Hanuman Nagar public library in the Ajni station area. Police said the accused allegedly supplied a consenting adult woman to the decoy client, after which he was immediately taken into custody at the spot.

After the accused was taken into custody, a search revealed a more serious matter. Police said the search recovered 3.610 grams of MD powder from him, valued at around Rs 36,100. Police said the MD was kept for sale to customers. Also recovered from the accused were Rs 1,500 in cash, an Activa scooter worth Rs 60,000 and two mobile phones worth Rs 21,000. In all, police have seized property worth Rs 1,18,600.

Following the operation, a case was registered against the accused at Ajni police station under sections 143(2) and 143(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sections 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, and sections 8(a), 22(b) and 29 of the NDPS Act. The accused has been handed over to Ajni police for further legal action, while the search continues for the absconding accused, Kunal Yashwant Yelekar.

Following the operation in the Ajni area, there are signs of tighter police monitoring of alleged sex work and drug activities. Police are also trying to establish how many other people were in contact with the accused and where his supply of MD drugs was coming from. Further investigation is expected to bring out more details on the sex work network, possible clients, the MD supply chain and the role of the absconding accused.

The operation was carried out by the Social Security Department and the AHTU team under the guidance of Police Inspector Darshan Patil of the Social Security Department, Crime Branch, Nagpur City. The complaint in the case was filed by police constable Prakash Mathankar.