16-year-old Rescued Just In Time—Before Being Sold in Maharashtra

On May 29, 2025, we received information about a 16-year-old victim who was to be sold to someone in Maharashtra. After collecting sufficient information, we met Pune City’s Crime Branch Assistant Commissioner of Police. He agreed to send out a team to initiate a raid. Our team had tracked the victim, Shani, to a residential apartment in Pune. When we called Shani, she said she was alone; her parents and brother were out. 

The police and our team went to the apartment and knocked on the door. Shani opened the door. She was carrying her five-month-old brother.

Shani’s parents were still out, and as we waited for them to return, Shani shared her story with us.

Shani was from a lower-middle-class family in Murshidabad, West Bengal. She was raised by her maternal aunt from a young age because her parents had no desire to have a relationship with her. Six months ago, Shani ran away from her aunt and married a boy she was in love with. A few months ago, her husband died in an accident. Shani continued living with her in-laws. In May, her parents (who had been against the marriage) forcibly took her from her in-laws' house and told her she must accompany them to a wedding in Pune.

A few days after arriving in Pune, Shani’s parents invited a woman over who inspected Shani from head to foot. The woman made Shani very uncomfortable.

A few days later, Shani overheard her father telling someone on the phone that they could take Shani and do whatever they wanted to her, but that they should never bring her back. Shani was so scared and upset. She pleaded with her father to send her back home to her aunt. Her father went into a rage and beat her.

Shani called her aunt, who told her to call the police helpline. Due to the language barrier, the police operator was unable to obtain any information from Shani. 

A few days later, we received intel about Shani from another source. Shortly afterwards, the police and our team were able to find and rescue her.

When Shani’s father finally returned to the house, the police questioned him. Shani’s mother arrived shortly afterwards, and upon interrogating her, we learned that Shani’s mother was involved in prostitution for over 18 years. 

After the police finished their reports, we all left for the police station. Shani, her mother, and her father each shared different accounts with the police. Although we urged the police to file a First Information Report, they refused to do so. They said that because they had heard different versions of the story, they needed to investigate further. 

On June 2, Shani was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Pune. We discussed Shani’s case with them at length, and the CWC ordered Shani to be placed in a shelter home. They also gave us permission to conduct a home investigation at Shani’s home in Murshidabad, West Bengal.

We had several additional meetings with the CWC to discuss Shani’s case. After conducting a home investigation at her aunt’s home, we learned that Shani’s aunt was also involved in prostitution. We shared our home investigation report with the CWC and recommended that Shani continue to stay in the shelter home since both Shani’s mother and aunt were still involved in prostitution.

Last week, the CWC called the police team who were investigating Shani’s case. The CWC insisted that Shani’s situation was very serious, and they advised the police to file a First Information Report immediately. 

On June 7, the police team filed an FIR and booked Shani’s father under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation) as well as under sections of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS). These sections will strengthen Shani’s case in court.

Shani’s father is in police custody, and we do not have any new information about her mother. Shani is safe in the shelter home and has begun her journey of healing.