Kottayam: A couple-swapping racket has been busted here by the Kerala Police with the arrest of six persons and more are likely to be nabbed in the coming days.
Almost 5,000 couples were found active on various social media groups that promote wife swapping, police disclosed.
Those arrested on Sunday belong to the districts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kottayam. While five were arrested by the Karukachal police, one was arrested by the Ernakulam police.
Those in custody had been active members of the gang at least since 2018.
The police suspect more persons to be involved and said more arrests would be registered soon. The police are also questioning many women in connection with the case.
About 30 persons, who are active members of such social media groups, are under police surveillance.
How the racket was exposed
The police acted on a complaint filed by a woman from Pathanad village in Kottayam district. She alleged her husband forced her to have sex with four others and indulge in unnatural sex.
After receiving the complaint, the police formed various teams to nab the accused and intensified the hunt for the accused with the help of the Cyber Cell. Finally, the accused were arrested from Thumboli beach area and Punnapra from Alappuzha district, Kaloor in Ernakulam district and Kooroppada and Aymenem in Kottayam district.
How the racket works
The police suspect the role of a well-entrenched racket behind the activities.
The group used to communicate using messaging applications Messenger and Telegram. The group allegedly shared photographs on these platforms and arranged meetings.
Some men engaged in the wife-swapping racket were said to be charging money for handing over wives to others. Many who hail from the higher strata of society are also active in such social media groups. The members use these social media platforms to discuss the modus operandi of the mutual swapping of wives.
Karukachal police lauded for swift action
The arrests could be made within hours after the woman gave the complaint only due to the swift moves made by the Karukachal police led by Station House Officer Richard Varghese.
The woman gave the complaint on Saturday afternoon. The police did not waste a single minute after getting general information and phone numbers of the accused from the woman. Separate police teams were pressed into service.
After identifying the tower location of the mobile phones of the accused with the help of the cyber cell, the police zeroed in on the accused. By Sunday morning, various teams returned to the police station with the accused.
A vast network of couples is likely involved in spouse swapping in Kerala. Only if any victim from the network comes up with a fresh complaint, a follow-up inquiry can be effectively undertaken, police stated.
The police are also planning to widen the scope of the present investigation into the whole State. Such groups, which involve expats as well, likely engage in couple swapping outside the state as well.
The police suspect that such groups meet at resorts and homestays at tourism centres while on vacation.
2 years' torture, claims complainant
The 26-year-old woman approached the Karukachal police station after being fed up with the continuous intimidation of the husband. It was two years ago that she was made to join a wife-swapping group on social media by the husband.
The 32-year-old husband made use of this group for making money and for having sex with other women. But when his torture crossed all limits, she finally sought the police's help.
According to the police, nine people were involved in assaulting the woman. Six of the accused were arrested. Out of the three remaining accused, a Kollam native has left the country. Among the nine, five arrived as couples with their wives. Four were single. These individuals referred to as 'studs' have to pay Rs 14,000 to the group.