MUMBAI: Mumbai police have arrested two 'godmen' for allegedly torturing 28 children and holding them captive in a house in the western suburb of Kandivli.
"Two persons, self-claimed 'maharaj' (godmen), have been taken into custody for illegally detaining 28 children, all from outside Maharashtra, in a building in Samtanagar area of Kandivli," DCP Kiran Chavan told PTI.
The bungalow is located in Thakur Village and was covered by green cloth from outside, the officer said.
The boys were brought to Mumbai three months ago under some pretext and held captive, the police officer said.
"They were made to chant mantras and beaten up. Some were made to stand on one leg for 16 to 20 hours at a stretch. One of the boys called up his parents and narrated the sordid tale," Chavan said.
The boys hail from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh, and were rescued yesterday, he said.
A case has been filed under provisions of the Child Labour Act and sections 420 (cheating), 370 (buying a person as a slave), 323 and 324 (assault) of IPC.