Among the arrested, Rajasundaram (62) of Chromepet, a retired professor, was a customer of the broker, Sandhya, and sexually abused the victim despite knowing that she was a minor. “When Rajasundram asked the girl why she was into flesh trade, she allegedly cited financial status of her family,” said an official.

The police said Rajasundram, who was a resident of Periamet, later shifted to Chromepet after the incident of the minor girl being forced into flesh trade came to light with the arrest of persons behind it.

The other accused, Anitha (35) of Tiruverkadu, a broker, received the girl from Sandhya to find her new customers. On Monday, officials also arrested one Giridharan (35) of Avadi, a photographer, for abusing the child. “He too was a customer of Sandhya and befriended her after meeting her at a wedding. Sandhya is the main accused as she sent the girl to different brokers,” said police. So far, 17 people, including an inspector and a reporter, have been arrested in the case. The victim, who visited her relative in Vyasarpadi, was forced into flesh trade by the family.

Meanwhile, the Peravallur all-women police arrested a 19-year-old boy for eloping with a 17-year-old on the promise of marrying her. The accused, Kumaravel of Perambur, is the son of head constable Thyagu, attached to MKB Nagar police station, said officials.

The victim’s father lodged a complaint on December 9 stating that his daughter, a first-year college student, went missing and raised suspicion that she could have eloped with Kumaravel. A case was registered and the duo was traced to Tirupati and secured. As he sexually assaulted the girl, Kumaravel was booked under Pocso Act and was remanded in judicial custody. The girl was sent to a government home before being sent with her parents.