Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 19 (IANS): Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Monday warned that stringent checks and monitoring would be introduced against illegal activities operating under the guise of spas and wellness centres, making clear that no wrongdoer would be allowed to escape the law.

The warning follows a series of cases in which women seeking employment and a minor girl were allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation. In the latest case, a 16-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh was allegedly brought to Kerala by her maternal aunt and the aunt's husband and exploited over several months at spas in Kovalam. Two spa operators have been arrested, and police have formed a Special Investigation Team, including cyber experts, to trace others allegedly involved. Investigators are also probing suspected benami links involving a municipal health inspector. All of these are allegations under investigation.

In a separate case in Kochi, a woman who responded to a job advertisement at a spa was allegedly lured to a lodge in Edappally and sexually assaulted after being drugged; four persons have been arrested. Police are examining alleged links between the accused and other spa establishments in the city. An earlier incident in Thiruvalla this year involved a woman employee at an Ayurvedic spa who was allegedly sexually assaulted after the establishment refused to pay extortion money demanded by a group, police said.

Under the statewide inspection drive described as Operation Spa, reports say 586 of 821 registered centres have been inspected, 14 cases registered and notices issued to 44 establishments found violating legal provisions. The minister said the government was considering a new law to regulate the sector, and warned that spas operating without licences or in violation of regulations would face strict action.

Chennithala also announced that Operation Toofan, the police initiative against drug-related activities, would be intensified with a new action plan covering all districts, after a detailed online meeting with district police chiefs and senior officers. He claimed drug use had declined by more than 30 per cent under the drive — a figure the minister stated, which Awaaz Punjab has not independently verified. On road safety, he said drunk driving would not be tolerated and that driving licences could be cancelled in drunk-driving accident cases under the Motor Vehicles Act, referring to the recent fatal accident in Nedumbassery in which three people lost their lives.

Sources: IANS (via hi INDiA, The Freedom Press and Nation Press); ANI (via DevDiscourse), Oct 19.