Chandigarh Spa Owner Arrested After Hidden Camera Found in Changing Room

A 51-year-old spa owner in Chandigarh was arrested after a woman discovered a hidden camera in the changing room of his establishment, Sparsh Unisex Spa, located in Manimajra. The incident has sparked serious concerns over privacy violations in personal care spaces.

The 27-year-old complainant, a resident of Sarangpur, had booked a session through a mobile application. Upon being guided to a dimly lit room by an older female staff member, she noticed a suspicious hole near the air conditioning unit. On closer inspection, she found what appeared to be a concealed camera lens covered with paper.

When confronted, the spa owner, Sandeep Bawa, allegedly denied the presence of any recording device. However, the woman had already started recording the situation on her phone. As she continued questioning him, Bawa reportedly attempted to push the device further into the ceiling in an effort to hide it.

After the woman filed a police complaint, authorities conducted a raid on the premises and recovered two LED screens—one linked to an external surveillance camera and another allegedly connected to the hidden camera. Additionally, police seized mobile phones, pen drives, Wi-Fi equipment, and a packet of condoms from the spa.

Although the hidden camera did not have storage capability, it was reportedly capable of live-streaming. Based on this, the police booked Bawa under Section 77 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with voyeurism and unauthorized surveillance. He was arrested and later granted bail.

The seized equipment has been sent for forensic examination to determine whether any recordings exist or if other individuals were similarly targeted. Police emphasized that even live surveillance without consent constitutes a criminal offense, and further action will follow based on the forensic results.