A day after the police arrested two members of a six-member gang who allegedly barged into Thiruvalla’s Ayurvedic spa, demanded extortion money and gang-raped a woman by shooting a woman, the police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
The case took a new turn on Saturday when the spa owner claimed the incident was the result of a competitor’s ‘price offer’. The police have recorded the statements of the deceased and the owner of the spa and are also investigating whether the spa was involved in illegal activities.
“Steps have been taken to provide all legal support to the survivors through the District Legal Services Office and to provide counselling. The police are also continuing with plans to invoke the Kerala Prevention of Social Activities Act against Subin Alexander, the main accused in the case, to place him in preventive custody,” said R. Anand, District Superintendent of Police, Pathanamthitta.
He denied the allegations
The officer also rejected accusations that the police were involved in the monthly extortion of money from spas in the region. “We have not come across any such allegations in relation to this case. However, action has been taken against those who have been accused of engaging in such activities,” he said.
According to him, the incident only came to light after the intervention of a member of the special department, although both the survivor and the owner of the spa were initially hesitant to file a complaint. “The officer directly informed me about the incident and based on that information a case was registered,” he explained.
Asked about the role of an associate of the deceased, who was allegedly friendly with the accused at the time of the crime, the District Superintendent of Police said the matter would be investigated and appropriate action would be taken if necessary.
Video of the ambush
In her statement, the survivor said the accused forced her to ask the spa owner to pay ₹3,000 and had already taken ₹50,000, threatening to release the video of the assault if the demand was not met.
Meanwhile, efforts are on to trace and arrest the remaining four accused in the case. The police are also investigating whether more people were involved in the crime.
Published – 07 Feb 2026 20:13 IST