Thiruvananthapuram: A nine-member special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the alleged sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh at spas in Kerala. The team will collect details of visitors to the establishments to identify others who may have been involved in the abuse. The probe team is also likely to visit Chennai to examine CCTV footage linked to the alleged exploitation of the girl at a spa in Guduvanchery.The SIT comprises police personnel from the crime branch and narcotics cell, with the Kollam inspector serving as the investigating officer, Thiruvananthapuram Fort assistant commissioner of police K Pradeep said.“Further investigation is under way to establish the involvement of others in the case. We are examining the details available to us, and more information will emerge as the probe progresses,” Pradeep said.The team will also investigate the possible involvement of a city corporation health inspector who, according to preliminary findings, had repeatedly communicated with Nishanth, one of the arrested spa owners. Police are examining the nature of the alleged links and possible role of any official in the case. His involvement has not yet been established.The owners of two spas in Kovalam were arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged exploitation. They were identified as Sajith Kumar (47), who runs Ayu Kerala spas at Thozhichal and Chappath, and Nishanth (46), owner of Dreams Spa at Avaduthura. Both are in judicial custody.The investigation began after the girl’s maternal aunt filed a missing-person complaint on Sept 21. The girl was traced the following day to the company of a young man who worked with her at a spa.Police found two Aadhaar cards, one showing her age as 20 and the other recording it as 16. Investigators contacted her school in Andhra Pradesh to verify her age. School records confirmed that she was a minor, prompting a change in the course of the investigation, Pradeep said.During counselling at the child welfare committee at Poojappura on Sept 23, with the assistance of a translator, the girl disclosed that she had been brought to a spa in the Kollam area in late June or early July and had stayed there for around two months. She later spent about four days at another spa.The girl also alleged that she had faced similar abuse at a spa in Guduvanchery, near Chennai. A zero FIR was registered and transferred to Guduvanchery police for further investigation. The SIT is likely to examine CCTV footage there to corroborate her statement and identify others who may have been involved.Meanwhile, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has initiated suo motu proceedings and sought reports from the district police chief, Thiruvananthapuram corporation secretary and district child protection officer.
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