Mumbai, March 18 The Maharashtra government is preparing guidelines for granting permission to establish spa centers, and these will include obtaining approval from the police, a minister told the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Home (Urban), made the statement after some members expressed concern that such establishments were being misused as fronts for operating flesh trade rackets.
He said a committee has been formed to suggest norms for regulating spa centers in the state.
Amit Gorkhe (BJP), through a calling attention motion in the council, raised the issue of spa centers being used for prostitution and referred to police raids on such an outlet in Pune's Vimannagar area.
Governor-nominated member and BJP leader Chitra Wagh claimed that flesh trade was increasing under the guise of spa centers.
Responding to the motion, Kadam told the House that a committee, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), and comprising officials from the urban and rural development departments, had been formed to frame regulations for granting permission to spa centers.
The panel is expected to submit its report to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis soon, he said.
"We are preparing regulations. From now on, spa centers will need approval from the home department (police) in addition to the shop establishment approval," the minister told the Upper House.
He said it was necessary for operators/owners to keep information on the women employed at spa centers.
Kadam informed that in 2025, as many as 21 women were lured into the flesh trade by offering them jobs. Also, eight cases of human trafficking were registered last year, leading to the arrest of 20 people by the police.