Hyderabad: Massage parlours and spas are under the scanner of the city police. After the detection of a couple of cases of cross massaging the cops have warned managements against cross- massaging and prostitution. Though there are no specific guidelines on running massage centres, cases will be booked if illegal activities are found, police said.

Though running massage parlours is not an offence, cross-massaging is an offence under the Hyderabad City Police Act. If establishments are found indulging in offences like prostitution in the name of massage cases would be booked against them under IPC, police said.

Cops said that some massage parlours offer cross massage to customers and also organise prostitution. “During our decoy operations we noticed cross massages and prostitution in some centres. The managements were running a brothel under the guise of spas,” said a police official from West Zone which has around 15 centres in areas like Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and Panjagutta.

Officials say there are no specific guidelines for massage parlours and in some cases the managements claim that cross massaging is no offence according to court orders. However, there is no clarity on it.

West Zone DCP A. Venkateshwara Rao said that raids will continue on massage centres and cases will be booked for cross massages under the City Police Act. If flesh trade is detected cases would be booked under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. The managements have been warned against illegal activities, he added.

However, there is an opinion that punishment for violators is not severe. Some days ago spas were raided in Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and Panjagutta and Madhapur police commissionerate limits. Women massagers, organisers and male customers were booked.