4 held for sexually abusing 15-year-old boy at rehabilitation centre

CHENNAI: Police on Sunday arrested four persons including the owner of a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre in Paranipudhur near Mangadu for sexually abusing a 15-year-old when he was there. The boy’s parents admitted him to the centre as he had mental-health issues, police sources said.

The boy, however, managed to flee from the centre and reached his parents, where he narrated tales of harassment including physical and sexual abuse.

They informed Porur All Women police station who confirmed that the allegations were true. They arrested the centre owner, Ravikumar (40) and three of his staff – Karthik (29), Jagan (28) and Mohan (26) on Sunday. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Police shifted occupants of the centre to another place and locked the place.