Rape accused priest of Church sent to police custody for 4 days

Kannur: The Thalassery District Sessions Court (Adhoc-1) today sent the rape case first accused priest Robin Vadakkancheril of St Sebastian Church in Kottiyoor to police custody for four days, until March 13. Judge Sreekala Suresh sent the priest Robin to police custody, following the plea of Peravoor Circle Inspector N Sunil Kumar-led team seeking four days' custody for interrogation and to found the role of other nine accused including doctors, nuns and former Child Welfare Committee (CWC) officials in the rape of a 16-year-old school student, who gave birth to a baby boy on February 7.

Court gave the order to hand over the priest to police team around 1300 hrs for police custody from the judicial custody at Sub-Jail, here. The police will also collect evidence from the church, laptop and other places including Waynad district. Police also added former CWC Chairman Fr Thomas Joseph Therakkm and member C Betty in the accused list in this case. Both of them have been expelled by the State Government from their post, following the notice given by the police. Police booked nine persons, including two doctors, hospital staff and officials of orphanage under the POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act for cover up, negligence, shifting the baby from mother on the date of delivery and conspiracy over the delivery of the minor girl.
All other eight accused filed anticipatory bail plea at Thalassery Sessions Court, Waynad District Sessions Court and High Court of Kerala.

The Thalassery Court will consider the bail plea on March 14. Christhu Raja Hospital Administrator Sister Ancy Mathew, Gynecologist Sister Tesy Jose and Pediatrician Dr Hyderali of Kristhu Raja Hospital at Thokkilangadi near Koothuparamba filed anticipatory bail plea on March 6. While, two nuns Sister Lisy Maria of Chrishtu Dasi Sabha (convent) at Waynad and Sister Anitta of Christu Dasa Convent at Iritty have also filed the anticipatory bail plea. All the bail plea will be consider on March 14.

Meanwhile, the victim girl wrote the plus one examination at her school in Peravoor. The exam has begun yesterday and she reached the venue to attend the exam with the help of child line activists, Health Department and police. School authorities arranged a special class room and she reached the exam centre in a car. It was on February 27, Fr Robin Vadakkancheril alias Mathew Vadakkancheril (48), who was the parish vicar at St Sebastian Church, Neendunoki, near Kottiyoor in the district, which is under the Manathavady Diocese was held from Chalakkudy when he was preparing to flee from the country after a case was framed against him. (UNI)