Home abuse: Main accused held

The main accused in the orphanage sexual abuse case, Babu Samuel, who had been on the run, was finally caught by the Avadi all-women police in Ambattur on Sunday.

Two days ago, two trustees and two maintenance staff of an orphanage in Tirumullaivoyal were arrested under the POCSO Act on charges of molesting minor inmates. The issue came to light at an event when a few girls at the home complained about the abuse to magistrates of Ambattur court.

If the children want to watch TV, going to his room is the only option. He used the opportunity and started molesting children.

After targeting girls, he slowly started abusing boys as well. A everyone obeyed his orders in the orphanage, the minor feared to raise complaints against him,” said the officer.

Though the victims have complained that they faced harassment for three years, police suspect that Babu Samuel could have molested many children who passed out of the school as well.

On Monday, about 20 boys of the orphanage will be taken to Tiruvallur Government Hospital for a medical examination.

Police said that Babu Samuel (55) was listed as the main accused in the case as he started molesting the minors first. Following this, his two maintenance staff D Baskar (39) of Ayanavaram and R Muthu (27) of Tirumullaivoyal also abused them, police sources said.

The couple Jacob (64) and his wife Vimala Jacob (59) of Villivakkam, the trustees of the Eternal World Trust (Nithya Varthai Siluvai Sangam) under which the orphanage functioned, were arrested on the charges of giving the trio a free hand despite knowing about the abuse of children.

While Babu Samuel was arrested from ICF colony in Ambattur, police after interrogation told that his wife deserted him within two years of marriage in 2003 citing his behaviour. He has been the orphanage warden from the time it was started in 2000, added police sources.

After the incident came to light, the children were shifted to other homes by Child Welfare Committee members.

Around 48 boys and girls, aged between 5 and 15 years of age, have been staying in two separate orphanages of the trust in the same locality, which are being run since 2000.

A month ago, 17 maintenance staff of a gated community in Ayanavaram were arrested under the POCSO Act for molesting a minor for over six months.