Molestation charge against priest in Kochi

Times of India
April 02, 2015

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Molestation-charge-against-priest-in-Kochi/articleshow/46777865.cms

KOCHI: A case was registered against a priest for allegedly molesting a girl, police said on Wednesday.

The case against parish priest of Puthenvelikkara Lourdes Matha Church was registered based on a complaint by the mother of the class IX student.

Police said the priest, identified only by his first name Fr Edwin, was not arrested.

The girl's mother alleged that the priest had been abusing the minor at the parish house since January.

"According to the complaint, the girl was called to the parish house several times between January and March. We have found that the girl used to go to the parish house. We are conducting further probe," Puthenvelikkara police sub-inspector M S Shibu said.

Though the alleged molestation continued for nearly three months, the girl informed the matter to her mother only on Saturday. A spokesperson of the Kottapuram diocese said the church, too, was probing the alleged incident.

"We have come to know about the allegation. As the church is also investigating the matter, we cannot speak more about it now," diocese spokesperson Fr Rockey Roby said.