(Image source from: www.thenewsminute.com)

Three minor girls were found at South Indian actress Bhanupriya’s home in Chennai, according to Childline officials.

The raid was conducted by officials based on a police complaint filed by a woman alleging that her daughter was being held by the actress at her home as domestic help.

With the assistance of Childline officials, Prabhavathi, a resident of Samalkot in Andhra Pradesh approached police alleging illegal confinement of her 14-year-old daughter. The woman also alleged that she was not permitted to meet her daughter and that the girl was not being paid wages.

A complaint was registered by Bhanupriya recently that the girl, who was her domestic help, had stolen money and valuables.

The actress said that Prabhavathi visited their house and admitted that she had the valuables in her control, and left for the village in Andhra Pradesh to return the stolen items. In that respect, she posted a complaint with the Samalkot police, alleging that the girl was being harassed at the actor’s house. The girl was moved to a special home on January 25.

Prabhavathi had as well alleged that Bhanupriya's brother had been sexually harassing her daughter.

The recent raids are in connection to Prabhavathi's complaint.

Child rights activist Achyutha Rao wrote to the National Commission for Protection of Child's Rights (NCPCR) and the state commission to investigate the matter, and has reportedly demanded the arrest of the actress. According to reports, the girls have also testified about sexual abuse.

Rao has also said that it needs to be investigated if the occurrence was part of a human trafficking racket.

However, Bhanupriya denied the accusations of abuse and said that the families had told her the girls were older than 18.

-Sowmya Sangam