Published Oct 08, 2026 | 10:37 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 08, 2026 | 10:37 AM
'Delight Spa' at Unichira in Kalamassery, where the alleged rape took place.
Police have started gathering evidence in the Kalamassery gang rape case on Thursday, even as reports emerged that the survivor was offered money by a group backing the accused.
Police are at ‘Delight Spa’ at Unichira in Kalamassery, where the alleged rape took place. They are also collecting evidence from a lodge in Edappally.
The Kalamassery police have arrested four people so far. The latest arrests are of Sanjay VS and Saranya Shashi, also known as Ammu. The first accused, spa operator Sreeraj, and the fourth accused, Jith Martin, had been arrested earlier and have been in police custody for two days.
The alleged gang rape took place on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2. The accused allegedly gave the survivor alcohol and drugs before sexually assaulting her.
Ammu allegedly lured the woman to the lodge after she responded to an OLX advertisement for a manager’s position at a spa. The woman, a former teacher, had lost her job and was looking for employment while dealing with the mental stress following a miscarriage.
She had informed her husband, who had left for Munnar with tourists that morning, that she had been called for an interview. She later told him that she had secured the job. The accused then allegedly arranged a vehicle to pick her up, claiming that there was an employees’ party.
The woman was taken to the lodge after the accused confirmed that her husband had left in a taxi.
Ammu allegedly gave her drugs along with ice cream, after which she became unconscious and was sexually assaulted. The accused allegedly made further attempts to assault her after administering drugs, including through food.
The woman eventually managed to flee after breaking a beer bottle, holding the broken glass against her neck and threatening to kill herself. The accused reportedly panicked and backed away, allowing her to escape.
According to details shared by the woman’s husband, the accused had allegedly planned to confine her, sexually assault her and later make her available to others.
The woman sustained injuries across her body and is undergoing treatment at Kalamassery Medical College. She is also suffering severe mental trauma.
The four accused who had been arrested were questioned under the supervision of the Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner Bijoy Chandran. They were later produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.
Police are expected to seek their custody for further questioning.
Police said the accused came to Kochi in search of jobs. They later started their own spa after working at other spas. Police suspect that the spa was used as a cover for illicit activities.
Police are also probing an alleged attempt to sabotage the case. The group supporting the accused allegedly offered money to the survivor’s family to withdraw the complaint. The relatives have refused to withdraw the complaint.
The survivor is currently undergoing treatment at Kalamassery MCH. Police will record her detailed statement once her health improves.
(With inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
