It is said that in Bangkok, if you throw a stone it is likely to hit a gambler or a brothel goer. In National Capital, it is likely to hit a spa goer. Number of  Spa centers offering sexual services in the garb of massage are increasing rapidly in the national Capital. These centers operate through various online websites, shops, malls and hotels in offering sensuous and titillating erotic massages to clients depending on how deep their pockets are. It has emerged as a safer alternative for those who do not wish to visit the capital’s infamous red light area, Garstin Bastion Road, popularly known as GB road.

Investigations by The Pioneer have revealed that in order to avail “sex services” one need not go to brothel but just type key words “online 24*7  spa services in Delhi” on Google and list of spa parlours with respective landline and mobile numbers would be displayed on the screen. A random call on most of these numbers was attended by a female receptionist, who after few minutes of conversation told about the sex services in implicit manner. However, no sooner the correspondent enquired by asking more direct questions most of the female and male attendants told him about the rates of sex services, types of sex services, ages of girls involved in providing it in lieu of massage and their rates according to hours of services. Interestingly, upon further enquiry it came to be known that it was not only female who are involved in the business offering sex but also males are involved.

‘Men or Women’ just have to pick a spa centre number available on internet and call. A receptionist will explain and help them decide how they can be satisfied. You have to go and choose your masseur, give a nice tip and whisper in his/her ear what you are looking for. Enjoy all this in the luxury of a room inside the spa or at your house as these centers also provide spas service at homes. Whether it’s legal or not, they don’t care.

The correspondent contacted several websites and spa-centers and it was revealed that the sex business kicks off late in the night, usually after 9 pm. It also came into light that the spa operators employ touts to solicit potential customers at several hotels and clubs at night. When contacted, it was revealed that apart from a body massage sex services are offered along with booze.

There are several spa websites running on internet. The Pioneer spoke to several of such websites to elicit information for the purpose of enquiry. One of the spa centers, before fixing up the rate for the spa and sex, shared the pictures of girls on the Whatsapp. The owner shared the pictures of girls along with rates mentioned below ranging from Rs 4000 to Rs 12000.

“Do you want service at your home or at our private place,” he said, adding that they provide girls not only from India but also hailing from abroad.

In another call to an online website claiming to be a spa center, the pimp told this correspondent that rates would depend on the level of satisfaction that the customer was looking for. He offered ‘complete satisfaction’ by housewives, college students and professional models. “We provide complete service. Massage, body-to-body and sex, everything is available. You will have to pay Rs 3,500 for a housewife, Rs 5,500 for the college student and Rs 8,000 for a model for one time and different charges for whole night. Two of them can also be sent on a discount,” said the man who picked up the call.

In the second call to yet another spa centre available on the web around 11: 30 pm, the agent responded: “We will provide hygienic, English-speaking girls at Rs 3,000-4,000 an hour in air-conditioned rooms and you can do whatever you want.” The agent who was a male ,asked this correspondent his location which was fictitiously given as Vasant Kunj. He said: “Go to Vasant Kunj mall and give me a call after reaching the spot, a man named Raju will be there who will escort to the spa service centre.”

There are more than hundred of sites running this illegal sex racket on the internet. Even kosher yellow pages websites are providing the contact numbers of spa centres available 24x7. “These companies at least should inquire and verify the background of advertising before registering such centres on their list,” said Akarsh, a student.

Whereas, Mahipalpur, on the way to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is famous for hotels on the stretch during day hours looks normal but after dusk, the real show starts as customers pour in seeking physical pleasure. 

Several residents of the locality claimed there is a well heeled prostitution racket that is flourishing unbridled with the active collusion of local police and other agencies. Hotels in Mahipalpur house numerous spas that double up as prostitution dens after the sunset.

“Earlier, these centers were restricted to the main road, but over the last year, many spa-owners have been buying property in residential areas. This is worrying all of us as they run their shops 24*7,” said Kamlesh Sehrawat, a resident of Block N in Mahipalpur.

This correspondent approached a customer coming out of the spa center in Mahipalpur. On asking him about the alleged sex services in spa he said that when you buy a package and enter a room that you are given there is a ‘surprise options’. “The girls ask you for other services other than massage. The owners don’t offer them openly because there is always the fear of being caught. And yes, people do come and pay for sex. The negotiation or the rates are fixed for sex by the girl who comes to massage,” said the customer.

 Whereas a spa manager in Mahipalpur said: “I have also heard about many spas involved in sex activities but this is not the case with ours. We even close early.”

These spa centers have big posters or installations of the Lord Buddha statues  at the entry point, in malls have also installed CCTV cameras at vantage points in the mall to alert them in case there was a police raid, said a man but refused to reveal his identity.

It may be recalled that Delhi High Court in August this year issued notice to Delhi Police and sought action against “sex rackets” continuing in the garb of massage parlours in the city.

In January of this year, municipal corporations had formed a committee to identify illegal spas. “We received several complaints regarding illegal spas or massage parlours running in the city. A survey of many areas is being carried out on a war footing.

Upon verification, the complaints received by residents about questionable activities at some of these centers were found to be true,” said a municipal corporation official.

On the contrary to these shady spa centers that offer sex for a price in the garb of massage service, genuine spa services are meant to therapeutically relieve a stressed person and relax the mind, body and soul by a highly professional masseur. Moreover, the ambience of the massage parlour plays a significant role in relaxing mind and body. What distinguishes proper spas from illegal sex rackets using them as a cover is the degree of attention paid to detail — from the special ingredients used to coat the body, to the masseurs who have undergone specialised training or flown in from distant shores, to the exotic detox packages they source and offer from around the world.

It is not just the prices they charge or the celebrities they attract that make the top-end spa special.

The staff at various kosher spas centers, are trained and are experts in their fields and are duly certified, said a source who has seen how illegally run spa centers have mushroomed in the city.

 But the clout and the nexus of illegal spa owners are such that even genuine spa owners refused to comment on the issue.