Pettah police on Thursday arrested seven individuals, including the alleged kingpin Varun (26) of Nanthancode, for operating a prostitution racket out of a rented house in Venpalavattom.
The accused—Varun, Naveen Suresh, Santhi, Vineesha, Nikhil, Zubin, and Priya—were booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. They have all been remanded in judicial custody.
According to police, Varun orchestrated the operation by sharing images and rates of women with clients via WhatsApp. The group had rented a house posing as a family, keeping their landlord in the dark by paying rent regularly.
Suspicion arose among neighbors due to frequent visitors, prompting a tip-off to law enforcement. Following surveillance, police posed as clients, confirmed the illicit activity through WhatsApp messages, and raided the premises, leading to the arrests.
Authorities are now probing whether the accused were part of a larger trafficking network.
