Spas in Kochi come under scanner after a series of alleged crimes

Fresh concerns have been raised over alleged criminal activities linked to spas in the city.

The latest incident reported in the city involved the alleged gang rape of a woman job-seeker. The city police are planning to collect information on alleged criminal activities involving people running spas.

Recent crimes reported from different parts of the district that had links to spas included immoral activities, honey-trap extortion, intimidation, and sexual assault. Two men, who reportedly run several spas in the city, have been arrested by the Kalamassery police in connection with the gang rape case, while at least two others are reportedly absconding.

Police sources said the incident had raised questions over recruitment practices in wellness centres and the suspected abuse of women employed in such facilities.

In July 2026, a goon leader and his associates had allegedly entered a spa at Nedumbassery, threatened the staff, and attempted to extort money, besides harassing women at the establishment. In the previous month, a woman employee of a spa was chased and allegedly attacked by five men while returning from work at an Ayurvedic spa around midnight in Muvattupuzha.

In February, four men were booked for allegedly blackmailing a 59-year-old man using a video recorded during his visit to a spa at Thykoodam in the city. In a similar incident in November last year, a civil police officer who had visited a wellness spa was allegedly threatened with exposure of his visit after a staffer claimed that a gold chain was missing.

A sub inspector was also accused of joining the extortion attempt, raising questions over the alleged involvement of police personnel in the incident.

Last year, the police had detained 11 women during a drug raid conducted at a facility in Vyttila that was being run under the guise of a spa.

“The police have taken note of the recurring incidents. The police can’t conduct random searches at the facilities and can act only on specific complaints. However, the police have been instructed to collect maximum information about the facilities,” an Assistant Commissioner said.

Another officer said it would also be examined whether the facilities were being run with the required permissions and licences.