Nerul (Navi Mumbai), Sep 2 (IANS) Navi Mumbai police Friday arrested the caretaker of an orphanage in Nerul here and his wife on charges of harassing and molesting minor girls.

"Twelve minor girls were leaving the Nerul branch of the orphanage, Ramabai Mukti Mission Ashram, when they ran into a beat officer of our police station Thursday," investiging officer Sheetal Munde told IANS.

"They complained of harassment from warden Satish Pagi and his wife, the matron," she added. "One of them also said she was molested by them."

On basis of the complaint, the police arrested Pagi and his wife. The charges are being investigated.

In March this year, three officials of another non-government organisation, Kalyani Mahila and Balak Seva Sanstha, were arrested after a child rights protection committee filed a report of misconduct with the inmates.

This NGO, also based in the Panvel area of Navi Mumbai, housed 19 mentally challenged girls.

Following a report by the State Coordination Committee for Child Protection, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) investigated the matter and found that the inmates were mistreated and went through sexual abuse by outsiders.