Police Raid 121 Spa Centres in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam City Police conducted surprise raids on 121 spa and massage centres across the city on Sunday night, in an operation aimed at curbing antisocial activities and uncovering illegal operations. The raids, carried out under the directives of City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi, were based on complaints filed by the public about large-scale prostitution and other anti-social activities taking place in these centres.
The simultaneous raids targeted specific areas including Gajuwaka and China Gantyada, among others. During the operation, police found evidence of prostitution being run under the guise of spa centres. At the Miami Ayurvedic Centre in Gajuwaka, police took four women, three customers, and the organisers into custody, according to a report from Deccan Chronicle. The rescued women were shifted to state-run safe facilities.
In a separate account, The Hindu reported that the Visakhapatnam Police deployed 54 teams for the crackdown, which aimed at verifying mandatory licensing, ensuring adherence to fire safety and hygiene standards, and checking illegal operations run in the guise of wellness establishments. The operation covered the entire city, with the police conducting simultaneous raids on 121 centres.
Seizure Notice and Further Investigation
During the raids, police issued a seizure notice to a centre in the Gajuwaka area, stating that activities indicating prostitution were found. According to The Hindu, at the Miami Ayurvedic Thai Spa in Chinna Gantyada in Gajuwaka, police found activity indicating prostitution, and further investigation is under way.
Many centres were found lacking proper documentation, trained staff, or health compliance records, as per the police release cited by The Hindu. The raid was part of a larger effort to enforce regulations on wellness centres, which have come under increased scrutiny.
Police Directives and Future Inspections
Following the raids, the city police instructed all spa and wellness centres to display rate lists, valid ownership documents, emergency contact numbers, and proper customer logbooks. Establishments must also employ certified therapists and adhere to statutory fire and hygiene norms, the release stated.
Police officials said that unlawful activities under the guise of wellness centres would face legal action, and that surprise inspections would continue at regular intervals. The operation, which The Hindu described as a citywide enforcement drive, is part of a broader effort to eradicate ganja, narcotic drug abuse, and other antisocial activities, as noted by Deccan Chronicle.
While Deccan Chronicle highlighted the action against the prostitution racket and the arrests, The Hindu provided additional details on the scale of the operation, the seizure notice, and the regulatory instructions. Both reports agree on the core facts: the raids took place on Sunday night, involved 121 centres, and uncovered prostitution activity at one specific centre.
The investigations are ongoing, and authorities have indicated that similar coordinated steps are being taken to ensure compliance among wellness centres in the city.