Coimbatore : The four accused in sexual harassment and blackmail case of a teenager girl in nearby Pollachi were detained under Goondas Act on Tuesday.

District Collector Rajamani ordered the detention of the accused this morning, following recommendations by Superintendent of Police R Pandiarajan last night.

The four–Thirunavakkarasu, Sathish, Sabariraj and Vasanthkumar- are lodged in the Jail, after registering cases including one under Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women’s Harassment.

The police had arrested the four on a complaint by the 19-year old girl student that they were blackmailing her by showing a video, which was shot by one of them, while another was trying to strip her clothes while travelling in a car.

Three more persons were arrested for assaulting the brother of the girl for complaining about them, one of whom was Nagaraj, an AIADMK local functionary, who was dismissed from the party yesterday.

The four were booked under IPC sexual harassment (354 A), assault (354 B) and under sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women’s Harassment Act.

Unconfirmed reports suggested that the gang had blackmailed several students from schools and colleges and further investigations are on.

Pandiarajan told reporters that the orders invoking the Goondas Act are being served on the accused in the jail.