Patna, March 12: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the sexual exploitation case of a minor girl arrested four persons, including the brother of the prime accused Nikhil Priyadarshi, from Patna on Saturday night.

They were produced before a court, which remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days.

Nikhil's brother Manish Priyadarshi, a co-accused in the FIR lodged with the SC/ST police station in the city, was apprehended while trying to flee the state. "The police arrested Manish from Patna airport police station area," an investigating officer said.

Three of Nikhil's associates - Kumar Gaurav, Prem Prakash Pandey and Bhim Mahto - were taken into custody from Mainpura, Khajpura and Maner areas, respectively. Nikhil is still absconding in the case, the investigating officer said.

During preliminary probe, it emerged that Nikhil, accused of sexually exploiting the minor daughter of a former minister and Congress leader, had stayed at the Mainpura residence of Gaurav after the police started a search for him.

"The trio (Gaurav, Prem Prakash and Bhim) were in constant touch with Nikhil on WhatsApp," Patliputra police station house officer Sanjiv Shankar Jha said. "The police have got Nikhil's phone number from the arrested."

Nikhil is on the run ever since an FIR was lodged against him with the SC/ST police on the girl's statement. The SIT obtained a proclamation notice from court to be pasted at Nikhil's house asking him to surrender within 30 days or be declared an absconder.

The court issued the proclamation order on Saturday. A Patna court last week rejected the anticipatory bail petition of Nikhil, son of a retired IAS officer.

The SIT has also failed to trace a senior Congress leader Brajesh Pandey, whose name figured in the sex abuse case during investigation. Pandey, a native of East Champaran district, had resigned from the post of state vice president of the party after the controversy.