Police raid 70 spas in Kozhikode

Kozhikode city police inspected around 70 establishments on October 17, shutting down 20 for lack of adequate documents and issuing closure notices to six others.

Incident prompts Home Department action

The crackdown follows a recent incident in which a twenty-year-old woman was allegedly sexually tortured in Kochi ahead of joining a spa, prompting tighter surveillance.

Bangladeshi workers with forged documents

The exposure of Bangladeshi women allegedly working as spa therapists using forged documents heightened concerns over verification of employees' identities and credentials.

Four arrested during inspections

Police registered cases at four police stations and arrested four persons during the October 17 inspections, carried out with support of a special squad under District Police Chief A.P. Shoukathali.

Women exploited for sexual services

A senior police officer said women massage therapists were encouraged to offer sexual services for additional income, with operators not offering fixed salaries but encouraging erotic massage sessions.

“There have been frequent complaints that the women massage therapists are being encouraged to offer sexual services to the customers for additional income.”

New verification requirements for operators

Spa and massage centre operators must now maintain registers with personal details of all employees and submit them to police for verification of identity documents, credentials and statutory permissions.

Customers and workers face legal action

Police confirmed action will target employees working without valid documents and customers whose involvement in offences is established. One arrested person was a customer from Malappuram district.

Inspections to continue with local authorities

District Police Chief Shoukathali confirmed inspections will continue in coordination with the Corporation and local self-government institutions, with employee verification remaining a key component.