Online prostitution: Govt to probe Kiss of Love protest

New Delhi: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala Thursday said the government would investigate whether the controversial 'Kiss Of Love' protest, held in the state last year, was used as a shield for sex trade or other such unlawful activities.

His statement comes a day after six people, including Rahul Pasupalan and his model wife Reshmi R Nair, organisers of last year's 'kiss protests', were arrested in connection with an online prostitution case in Kochi.

"There is a big network behind the online sex trade in the state. The investigation will continue and all those involved in it will be brought before the law," Chennithala told reporters here.

"Those who had been in the front of Kiss of Love protest are among the key accused in the case. It is evident that they will go any extent to meet their selfish motives. We will investigate whether the Kiss of Love protest was used as a shield for any such unlawful activities," he said.

However, the minister said he did not believe that all those who participated in the 'KoL' protest, against moral policing, had such intention.

Rahul and Reshmi besides others were arrested in simultaneous raids conducted in various parts of the state. The couple's six-year-old son was also with them when they were arrested from a hotel near Nedumbassery airport in Kochi yesterday.

Cases under various Sections of IPC, section 67 of IT Act and provisions under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act were registered against those arrested.

Twenty mobile phones, two cars and a tablet were among items found, police said.