Kalamassery gang rape: Two arrested, woman suspect still absconding in Kerala
Synopsis
A woman was allegedly drugged and repeatedly gang-raped at a lodge in Edappally, Kochi, after being lured by a fake spa job advertisement on OLX — with a woman among the accused. Two are now in custody; two more, including the woman suspect, are absconding. Police are probing whether this is part of a larger pattern.
Key Takeaways
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a woman in Kalamassery, Ernakulam , Kerala.
Two more accused, including a woman , remain at large; a manhunt is underway.
The victim was allegedly lured via a fake spa manager job ad on OLX and taken to a lodge in Edappally on 2 September .
She was allegedly offered spiked juice, rendered unconscious, and subjected to repeated sexual assault over 2 and 3 September .
One arrested accused is suspected of links to multiple spas in Kochi ; police are probing whether similar crimes occurred earlier.
Kochi City Police Commissioner S.
Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar confirmed all aspects of the case are under active investigation.
Two persons have been taken into custody in connection with the alleged gang rape of a young woman in Kalamassery, Ernakulam district, Kerala, while police continue to search for two more accused, including a woman, Kochi City Police Commissioner S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said on Monday, 5 October 2026. The victim, who was living with her husband in Kochi, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to the police investigation, the victim came across a job advertisement on OLX seeking a manager for a spa. She attended a personal interview on 2 September, and later that evening, a woman allegedly contacted her and asked her to come to a lodge at Edappally, near Kochi. An Uber taxi was reportedly arranged for her travel to the lodge.
Upon arrival, the victim was allegedly offered juice. She reportedly became unconscious after consuming it and was subsequently gang-raped. Police suspect she was kept at the lodge for approximately a day, during which she was allegedly given drugs and alcohol and subjected to repeated sexual assault. The alleged assault took place on 2 and 3 September.
Accused and Key Suspects
Two persons have been arrested so far. One of those in custody is suspected of having links with several spas operating in Kochi. Two more accused remain at large, including the woman who allegedly contacted the victim after the interview and was also allegedly among those who sexually assaulted her, according to police.
Scope of the Investigation
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the job advertisement, the role of the spa connections of one of the accused, and the sequence of events leading to the victim being taken to the lodge. Police are also probing whether additional individuals were involved and whether similar incidents may have occurred earlier. Commissioner Mahesh Kumar confirmed that all aspects of the case are under active investigation.
What Happens Next
A manhunt is underway for the two absconding accused, with the woman suspect being a particular focus of the search. Investigators are expected to trace the origins of the OLX advertisement and map the broader network linked to the spa operations. The case has drawn attention to job-luring schemes used to target vulnerable individuals, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a larger organised network.
Point of View
Particularly women. The presence of a woman among the alleged perpetrators and the suspected spa network link suggest this may be more organised than an isolated assault — a dimension investigators must pursue urgently. Police confirmation that they are probing whether similar incidents occurred earlier is significant: if a pattern exists, the number of victims could be higher. The case also raises questions about the adequacy of platform-side safeguards on job advertisement sites, which remain largely unregulated in India.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kalamassery gang rape case?
A woman was allegedly drugged and gang-raped at a lodge in Edappally, Kochi, on 2 and 3 September after being lured there through a fake spa manager job advertisement on OLX. She was reportedly rendered unconscious by spiked juice and subjected to repeated sexual assault over roughly a day.
How many people have been arrested so far?
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the case. Two more accused, including a woman who allegedly contacted the victim and is also suspected of participating in the assault, remain at large and are being actively searched by police.
Who is leading the investigation?
Kochi City Police Commissioner S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar confirmed on Monday that police are investigating all aspects of the case. Investigators are examining the OLX job advertisement, spa network connections of one accused, and whether similar crimes took place earlier.
Why is the spa connection significant?
One of the two arrested accused is suspected of having links with multiple spas operating in Kochi. Investigators are looking into whether these spa connections were used to facilitate the crime and whether the accused were part of a broader organised network.
What is the current condition of the victim?
The victim, who was living with her husband in Kochi, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, according to police. Authorities have not disclosed further details about her condition.
