Uzbek national Lola Kayumova, 45, who allegedly changed her appearance and moved between addresses to evade arrest in a suspected sex-trafficking case, was arrested in Lucknow on Tuesday night after more than a year on the run, police said on Wednesday.
The central development
Police alleged that she brought women from Uzbekistan to India through Nepal on the pretext of providing jobs before pushing them into prostitution. A police team questioned her before arresting her at the women’s help desk of the police station. She was later produced before a court. Police recovered two mobile phones from Kayumova and are examining their contents for evidence about other alleged members of the network. Kayumova faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Registration of Foreigners Act and Foreigners Act in the case registered at Sushant Golf City police station.
Kayumova was wanted in a case registered in June 2025 after police found two Uzbek women staying illegally in an apartment at the Omaxe R1 complex in Sushant Golf City.
Police said Kayumova had undergone seven cosmetic surgeries involving her face, lips, underarms and private parts, allegedly to alter her appearance and look younger. During interrogation, the two Uzbek women, identified as Holida and Nilofar, allegedly told police that the surgeries were performed by Lucknow-based doctor Vivek Gupta at his private clinic in Ahmamau. “the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) alerted Sushant Golf City police about Kayumova’s presence in Lucknow, according to DCP South Md Mushtaq. Police said further action against other accused would depend on the evidence recovered.
Investigators had earlier alleged that she presented herself as a younger, affluent woman while operating the network.
