Along with Luban Kumar Paul, the director of Mercy Adaikalapuram Missionary Home for children, his wife Mercy Rani and brother Justin Manavalan were also arrested.



The home, which housed 50 girls between 5 and 17, was also shut down.



The girls also said Luban, who resides in the same house, used to call them to his room late night and sexually abuse them. Also the girls, as they said, were threatened to remain silent.



The collector lodged a complaint with the Tiruvannamalai all women police station.



Luban, Mercy and Justin have been booked under the Juvenile Justice Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.



In June this year, a Kerala nun had alleged she was raped by senior Catholic priest Franco Mulakkal in 2014 and was also sexually violated on multiple occasions.



The priest, who was arrested, remained in the jail for more than three weeks. He got bail in mid-October.