Arun Kumar Patnaik of Anangapur village near Digapahandi was arrested yesterday for cheating the parents of the children by promising to admit the children in school, said sub divisional police officer, Chikiti B N Dehuri.
The accused was arrested on the basis of FIR lodged by a parent, he said.
He allegedly brought the children to Ganjam district on May 17 and collected Rs 3500 each from the parents of the children. However, the children were yet to be admitted to any school, the parents alleged.
Local people with the help of police have rescued 52 children from a house in Anangapur village on Sunday.
While 43 children have already been reunited with their family, nine more rescued students are still in the custody of Child Line, Berhampur and they will be united with their parents after verification of their address, said an activist of the organisation.