T’puram: The corporation announced a comprehensive inspection of spa centres operating across city to verify licences and curb illegal activities, mayor V V Rajesh said at a news conference on Sunday. The move, to be undertaken in coordination with city police, comes amid growing concerns about spa establishments operating outside legal norms and allegations of ‘cross-massage’ and other unethical practices.Following a complaint from a woman, the corporation officials and police inspected a spa near the Secretariat on Sunday evening and closed the spa after finding that it was functioning illegally and offered cross-massaging services. The complainant had stated that she was ill-treated by the spa owner on Saturday night.
“Directions were issued to verify the licence granted to all spas functioning within Thiruvananthapuram corporation limits,” the mayor said, adding that inspections will be carried out jointly with police officials. The announcement followed concerns raised after an unrelated incident in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, where a spa employee was allegedly raped by a gangster, sparking scrutiny of spa operations statewide. Although initial police checks in some city spas found that employees were legally adults, the corporation and police now plan a broader, coordinated operation against illegal and immoral practices. Police previously targeted spas as part of broader enforcement drives. In April 2025, law enforcement conducted Operation D-Hunt, raiding around 25 spas and massage centres citywide as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking linked to these establishments. A spa near Thampanoor railway station was ordered closed for lacking valid paperwork, and police collected registration details to ensure compliance with regulations. Rajesh reiterated that corporation licences for spas mandate the presence of qualified masseurs and a doctor on site, requirements that many centres reportedly fail to meet. He alleged that some doctors might even be complicit in illegal activities and that details of such cases would be forwarded to the appropriate medical regulatory authority. In addition, the mayor claimed that intelligence reports suggested some police personnel might be linked to mafia networks operating spa businesses. He stressed that strict action would be taken against any spa found to be involved in illegal or immoral activity, including licence cancellation and criminal prosecution supported by police forces. The corporation’s planned inspections are expected to begin shortly, with authorities promising a detailed action plan following discussions with senior police and municipal officers.
