I am The Goan Member Ricardo Rebello’s lead and The Goan’sfollow up of suspect spa Shamile in Candolim has led to its permission tooperate being revoked. The controversial spa operating earlier as Simron wasasked to shut down by Candolim Panchayat hours after the news report appearedlast week as authorities forced the establishment to shut shop. What isshocking is the fact that even though the panchayat has handed over the matterto the Police, the parlour continues to operate and is doing brisk business.
It may be recalled that Rebello had brought to the notice ofThe Goan, how a woman named Maria Mishra had allegedly been operating a sexbusiness with spa as a front in Candolim, Porvorim and Anjuna. The Goan teamreported from ground zero and inquired of the Candolim Sarpanch Ana Maria andCalangute Police Inspector Nolasco Raposo. Sarpanch Maria confirmed that thePanchayat had ordered a closure and it would await the response of the spaowner before taking any action. The Goan’s report hastened action and thePanchayat closed the operations down.
I am The Goan hastriggered off a statewide campaign against beauty and massage parlours and spasdoubling up as sex shops. “Yes, although we have not yet acted, we are closelywatching the massage parlours (and spas). We will get cracking on themshortly”, confirms Vijay Singh, SP North Goa. The Police are monitoring 20 odd massageparlours spread across Calangute, Panjim and Porvorim primarily. Other dubiousparlours across north Goa’s coastal belts are in line to face a crackdown.
The Goan report may have shut shop of Ms Mishra’s inCandolim but other shops of the same owner remain functional. “How can a beautyand massage parlour have so many clients in big snazzy cars lined up outsidethroughout the day?” wonders Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte. Khaunte though refusesto be drawn into the suspicious ways in which Lotus Parlour on the CHOGM roadhas been conducting business as it falls under Tourism Minister DilipParulekar’s Saligao constituency, he definitely wants the law to crack down.“Last time around the Housing Society (where Lotus is located) had complainedto the Porvorim Police, their complaint wasn’t registered. It was Mapusa Policethat acted and sent decoys but nothing came of it”, informs Khaunte.
With North Goa Police getting ready to crack down on sexshops masquerading as spas, salons and massage parlours, I am the Goan hasarrived. It will now ensure that these sex shops, ordered to be closed down,follow orders.
