BJP Leader’s Husband’s Apartment Raided in Varanasi Prostitution Case

In a major embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Varanasi police on Wednesday night raided two spa centres operating in Sigra locality and busted an alleged prostitution racket. One of the premises, Flat No. 112 in Shakti Sikha Apartment, is registered in the name of Arun Yadav, husband of prominent BJP Mahila Morcha leader Shalini Yadav, triggering intense political controversy.

Thirteen individuals — nine women and four men — were detained during the operation. Authorities allege the spas were being used as fronts for organised flesh trade. The involvement of a property linked to a senior BJP functionary’s family has provided fresh ammunition to opposition parties, who have demanded a thorough probe and Shalini Yadav’s immediate suspension from the party.

Appearing before the media four days after the raids, Shalini Yadav strongly denied any personal or direct connection to the flat or the illegal activities. “The property is neither in my name nor am I a co-owner. My husband rented it out in April 2024 without any knowledge of what the tenants were doing,” she declared, terming the episode a “politically motivated smear campaign” aimed at tarnishing her reputation ahead of future electoral battles.

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Arun Yadav corroborated his wife’s version, stating he has owned the apartment since 1999 and has been leasing it out for commercial purposes for over two decades. “The current tenants took it on an 11-month agreement and even defaulted on rent. I live several kilometres away and had no reason to suspect illegal activity until police informed me,” he said, adding that neighbouring units in the same building are also used commercially.

Shalini Yadav announced that her legal team is preparing defamation cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Information Technology Act, and civil laws against those circulating “malicious” content and old photographs with senior leaders. Describing herself as coming from a “prestigious family with an unblemished record,” she vowed to fight the allegations in court while continuing her public service, as the scandal continues to dominate political discourse in the state.

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