Four people, including the owners of an unauthorized orphanage in Tirumullaivoyal, Chennai were arrested on charges of child sexual abuse after boys and girls approached the members of the child welfare committee during an awareness program on sexual harassment and child welfare organized by a government school.
Based on the accounts of the children, the accused have been identified as Jacob and Vimala Jacob, owners of the home, Muthu (28), Baskar (40) and another warden Samuel (54), who is absconding. The children apparently broke down in front of the members of the committee before they were taken into a private room and questioned. The children claimed that they were being sexually harassed by the owners and workers of the home and were also being threatened.
The Police raided the private home based on the accounts of the children and confirmed the sexual harassment of children. It was also discovered that sexual abuse occurred in the orphanage irrespective of gender. The Police also found that the private home is unregistered and their license had expired in 2015. 44 children have been rescued from the place and sent to various government homes.
The Police have registered a case against the accused under Section 5 (Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault); Section 6 (Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) and Section 17 (Punishment for abetment) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
