Kerala church sex scandal: HC dismisses anticipatory bail pleas of priests

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The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed anticipatory bail applications filed by three priests alleged to be involved in the Orthodox church sex scandal case. The high court observed that there was sufficient evidence to proceed legally against the three priests.

The counsel for priests argued that the woman had ulterior motives in filing the assault complaint. However, the state advocate, who strongly opposed the bail, said that the accused had misused the faith of the woman. 

Earlier last week, the Kerala High Court had declined to grant two priests any interim protection from arrest over sexual assault charges.

The two had moved the court after the Crime Branch wing of Kerala Police slapped rape charges against four of the five priests, including them, in the case.

Two other accused priests have also approached the court seeking bail.

Last month, a man from Pathanamthitta district had accused the five priests of using his wife's secret confession to blackmail and sexually abuse her.

The incident came to light after an audio clip containing the victim's husband's purported conversation with a church official alleging sexual abuse of his wife by the priests was widely circulated on the social media.

The investigation team had recorded the statement of the victim's husband earlier.

The man had reportedly handed over copies of evidence against the priests to the crime branch team.

A Crime Branch probe was ordered into the case last week by state police chief Loknath Behara.

Veteran CPI(M) leader and chairman of the Kerala Administrative Reforms Commission V.S. Achuthanandan and the National Commission for Women (NCW) had written to Behara demanding a probe into the charges.

Crime Branch Inspector General S. Sreejith is leading the probe.

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