The special investigation team probing the alleged sexual exploitation and trafficking of a 16-year-old girl at spas in Kovalam has arrested another accused, taking the total number of arrests in the case to eight.
The accused has been identified as Kiran J Jiji, 23, a resident of Kidarakuzhi near CSI Church at Mulloor in Vizhinjam. The SIT took him into custody on Tuesday, after which he was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody, according to investigators.
Police allege that Kiran assisted Sajith, the prime accused and operator of two spas in Kovalam, in bringing women to the establishments. Investigators suspect that he helped facilitate the movement of women as part of an alleged human trafficking network connected to the spas. His alleged association with Sajith and role in bringing women to the establishments emerged during the investigation, following which the SIT traced and arrested him.
The investigation is examining alleged links between spa operators, intermediaries and other people suspected of facilitating the movement of women and girls to the establishments. Investigators are also looking into financial transactions and possible involvement of additional people, as the probe expands beyond the operators named in the initial case.
The case came to light after the girl’s maternal aunt filed a missing-person complaint on September 21. The 16-year-old, who is from Andhra Pradesh, was subsequently traced. During counselling, she told investigators that she had been brought to spas in the Kovalam area and sexually exploited. Police also found that documents had allegedly been used to misrepresent her age as 20.
The first arrests included spa operators Sajith Kumar, 47, and Nishanth, 46, followed by the girl’s maternal aunt and her husband. Corporation health inspector M O Anuroop and temporary health inspector V C Maya were later arrested over their alleged links with the spa operations. Bengaluru-based intermediary Vani was the seventh person arrested before Kiran’s detention.
The arrests involving municipal health officials have added an administrative dimension to the case, with the investigation examining whether people connected to the establishments helped their operations continue. The available information does not establish the specific nature of each accused person’s alleged role beyond the details attributed to investigators.
The SIT is continuing its investigation into the alleged interstate trafficking network, the movement of women and girls to the spas, financial transactions and the possible involvement of more people. All allegations remain subject to the ongoing investigation and judicial process.
