Kochi: The Aloor police arrested absconding Swami Narayana Dharmavruthan alias Thamarakshan, the secretary of Kottanellur Sivagiri Madom on Wednesday from Chennai, with relation to the POCSO cases registered against him, and brought him to Thrissur.
The arrest of the swami hailing from Idukki took place after three months of probe. A police team led by Aloor SI V.V. Vimal effected the arrest.
Child Line had reported child sex abuse of three children at the Ashramam in last June, following which the police proceeded against him. The children contacted the agency to narrate their bitter tale.
The Kottenellur Ashramam comes under the Varkala Sivagiri Madom and it has been five years since he became a saint. Seven children hailing from poor families and aged between 12 and 15 were staying at the Ashram to learn pooja rituals while undertaking regular studies.
An official said that the swami did not allow the boys to contact their homes fearing that they would share their experiences with kin back home. He used to beat them up and they sought the help of a madom staff to contact Childline. Altogether, seven POCSO cases have been slapped on the Swami.
Under instructions from Rural SP M.K. Pushkaran, a police team led by Chalakkudy DySP C.R. Santhosh traced the whereabouts of the swami, tracking the mobile tower location. The investigation team included Additional SI E. S. Denni, special squad members SI Valsakumar, ASIs C.K. Suresh, K.K. Reghu and Jinumon Thacheth.
