Spas in Kochi come under scanner after a series of alleged crimes
Two men reportedly running several spas arrested in alleged gang rape case; at least two others reportedly absconding; officials flag concerns over recruitment practices at wellness centres and alleged abuse of women employees; police to examine whether spas are being run with the required permissions and licences
Spas in the Kochi city are under scrutiny following a series of alleged criminal activities, prompting the city police to gather information on criminal acts involving those who run spas. According to the Hindu, two men linked to multiple spas have been arrested in a gang rape case, with at least two suspects still at large. The incidents have raised concerns over recruitment practices and the abuse of women employees at these wellness centers.
Recent crimes linked to spas include immoral activities, honey-trap extortion, intimidation, and sexual assault. In July 2026, a goon leader and his associates threatened staff and attempted to extort money from a spa in Nedumbassery. In October, a woman employee was chased and attacked by five men while returning from work at an Ayurvedic spa in Muvattupuzha.
In February, four men were charged with blackmailing a 59-year-old man using a video recorded during his visit to a spa at Thykoodam. Another incident in November saw a civil police officer allegedly threatened after a staff member claimed to have lost a gold chain.
The police have noted the recurring incidents and instructed to collect maximum information about the facilities. However, they can only act on specific complaints due to the difficulty of conducting random searches at spas.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
