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VASCO: A former footballer from Kerala along with his associate was arrested by the Vasco police for running a prostitution racket at a spa-cum-massage parlour in the port town on Tuesday.

Nidhinlal, a goalkeeper who has played for leading I-League clubs in the country including Mumbai FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Minerva Punjab FC and even Indian Super League ( ISL ) champions Chennaiyin FC, was nabbed by the Vasco police along with Shyni Joseph.

The raid was conducted after police received information that sexual services were being offered to customers at the establishment under the pretext of spa treatments. A decoy customer was subsequently sent and women were caught red-handed.

Three women — a local, a Nepalese and one from Sangli in Maharashtra — were rescued. Police said the accused lived off of the women’s earnings.

A case has been registered under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic Act. Joseph and Nidhinlal were produced before the Vasco JMFC and were remanded in six days police custody.

A fortnight ago, Nidhinlal was in the news after he accused Minerva Punjab FC of not paying his dues for eight months and denying him the no objection certificate (NOC) that would have allowed him to ply his trade with another club.

The former goalkeeper has been residing in Goa for over a year now and claimed he started a saloon to make ends meet. He also said he was training children from the locality.

