Kerala Home Minister warns of strict police action against illegal spas following Kochi gang rape

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala warned of strict police action on Thursday against illegal spas and criminal groups running sex rackets, extortion schemes, and intimidation. The warning follows the gang rape of a woman who was lured to Kalamassery in Kochi with the false promise of a job at a spa. Chennithala stated that instructions have already been given to the Director General of Police, who is examining the matter. Complaints regarding fraud, sexual assaults, and intimidation linked to illegal spas have surfaced in many parts of Kerala, with the highest number reported from Ernakulam, alongside complaints from Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.

Investigation and Arrests

Police arrested two more accused in the gang rape case, identified as Saranya alias Ammu and Sanju, in Wayanad on Tuesday night. Authorities had previously arrested two other suspects, Sreeraj and Jith Martin, and placed them in judicial custody. The assault took place on October 2, involving four alleged attackers. The survivor disclosed the incident to her partner and subsequently filed a police complaint. According to the partner's statements to reporters in Kochi, the survivor returned home severely injured with a swollen face after going out for the promised job. He stated that four people, including a woman, initially assaulted her before additional individuals entered the room. The assault stopped only after the survivor broke a beer bottle and threatened to take her own life.

Context

Illegal establishments operating under the guise of wellness spas often bypass regulatory licensing and local oversight, creating vulnerabilities for criminal activity and exploitation. Law enforcement agencies across India frequently crack down on unlicensed operations when criminal complaints regarding fraud and violence emerge.