Kerala High Court: recantation by women found at a spa raid is not enough to quash Immoral Traffic Act proceedings at the threshold
3 October 2026
Justice Jobin Sebastian of the Kerala High Court partly allowed a petition (Crl.MC No. 5824 of 2026) filed by six accused (accused 1 and 3 to 7) in a case from an Ayurvedic spa.
The women had later disowned the prosecution case through affidavits.
The court held that recantation by witnesses does not mean there is no possibility of a conviction, as these are offences of public interest.
Proceedings against accused 1 and 3 continue on all charges.
For accused 4 to 7, charges under Sections 4 and 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 were quashed, but those under Sections 5 and 7 remain.
In plain words
Recantation Withdrawal of an earlier statement — A witness retracts what was said earlier in a statement.
Quash To set aside legal proceedings — The High Court ends a criminal case before trial.