The police action came after a video showing the businessman beating a woman, believed to be the mother of the help, her husband and a teenage son went viral. In the video, the accused is also seen cutting the hair of the woman.

According to police, the incident took place in Domjur area of Howrah district on July 7. The accused also forced the woman help’s family, who work as labourers, to leave the village, they said.

“The family was hiding in fear and didn’t report the incident to the police initially. We took suo motu action after seeing the viral video. Three persons — Abdul Hasan Lashkar, Isha Lashkar and Shyam Lashkar — have been arrested till now. The investigation is on. If anyone else is involved, action will be taken against them as well,” Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Tripathi said.

According to police, three weeks ago, the young woman, who worked at Lashkar’s home, eloped with a man. After she ran away, the Lashkar family members thrashed the family members of the help in public. They cut their hair, recorded the incident and forced them to leave the village.

Police said that Lashkars have alleged that the young woman employee stole Rs 20 lakh from the house before running away. However, the accused denied cutting the hair. “There was a theft at our home. An attempt was made to settle the matter. The haircut video is not true,” Salim Lashkar, a member of the family said.