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Spa Exploitation Probe: Girl's Age Falsified
20 Oct
Summary
- A 16-year-old girl was allegedly sexually exploited at a Kerala spa.
- Her aunt and uncle trafficked her and were arrested in Andhra Pradesh.
- A junior health inspector allegedly operated the spa as a 'benami'.
A Special Investigation Team is rigorously probing the alleged sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl at a spa in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam. The survivor, originally from Andhra Pradesh, was reportedly trafficked by her maternal aunt and uncle. Authorities successfully apprehended the couple in Andhra Pradesh, and they have been remanded to judicial custody. Investigators are seeking custody to conduct further interrogations.
Initially, the survivor was presented to the court with forged documents suggesting she was 20 years old. However, suspicion led officers to verify her educational background. School records confirmed her actual age as 16, prompting further action.
The investigation gained momentum with the arrest of Anuroop, a junior health inspector. He is accused of acting as the 'benami' operator of the Kovalam spa where the abuse occurred. Financial transactions linked to the spa's Google Pay scanners reportedly led to Anuroop's accounts.
Given information that the minor may have been abused in other locations, including Chennai, an additional FIR was filed. This case has been transferred to Guduvanchery police in Chennai for further investigation.
