Kovalam spa sexual abuse case: Tamil Nadu police seek permission to arrest victim's relatives, submit application in court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The investigation into the Kovalam spa sexual abuse case is intensifying. The Tamil Nadu police have also filed an application in court seeking permission to arrest the victim's relatives after the 16-year-old told investigators that she had been sexually abused at a spa in Chennai as well. The police will record the arrest as soon as the court grants permission.

Meanwhile, a special investigation team from Keralam has travelled to Andhra Pradesh to collect more evidence on the basis of the girl's statement. The investigators will collect evidence from the school where the girl studied and record her sister's statement. The investigation team was recently expanded with ACP C Chandrakumar as the investigating officer after the case was found to have interstate links.

The couple who brought the girl to Keralam will be charged with human trafficking. The investigation will look into how the girl was brought to Keralam and who all acted as intermediaries.

It was MO Anuroop, a health inspector with the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, who encouraged the accused Nishanth to start Dream Spa in Kovalam and brought women from other states. He had made connections for this by misusing his official position. The police have also found large-scale financial transactions through his four accounts.