Pune: Action against malpractices at massage parlours, 33 cases registered in one year

Pune: Action is being taken against malpractices at massage parlours in the city. In the past one year, the police registered 33 cases for running prostitution rackets under the guise of massage parlours. Moreover, the Crime Branch filed 20 cases by taking action against massage parlours. Various police stations across the city filed 12 such cases.

Complaints of malpractices carried out at massage parlours were lodged with the police. There are over 400 massage parlours in the city and suburbs. Barring a few, malpractices continue in most of them, said sources.

In comparison to the number of massage parlours, the number of police actions is less. The Crime Branch raided parlours in Baner, Kondhwa, Vishrantwadi areas after complaints were made to Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar. Offences were filed against parlour owners under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). Women detained in raids were sent to observation homes.

Directives from the Commissioner of Police

CP Amitesh Kumar recently directed all police stations in the city to act against illegal businesses and massage parlours indulging in malpractices. He warned police officials that inter-departmental action would be taken against them if they failed to act against such parlours.

Foreigners in massage parlours

Many massage parlours in the city are run as ‘Thai Spa’. Many women working in these parlours hail from Thailand. They arrive in India using the tourist visa. Such women cannot take up a job. However, they work in massage parlours. They have to furnish their residential address in India. However, they stay somewhere else, said officials from the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO). The FRO acts against violations of visa regulations. Violators are issued ‘Leave India’ notices. If they do not leave the country, they are deported.