A priest and two nuns of a Kerala church surrendered before the police in Kannur district of Kerala on Friday in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old girl.
The three had been accused of shielding Father Robin Vaddakumchery of St Sebastian church in Kottiyoor who had allegedly raped the minor at his parish at St Sebastians church. The girl had delivered a baby in February.
Former Wayanad Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairman Fr. Joseph Therakam, Sr. Ophilia, the Superintendent of Holy infant Mary orphanage at Wayanad and another nun Sr. Betty have surrendered before the investigation officer Sunil Kumar.
In the worst sex scandal in the history of Catholic establishment in Kerala, the father of the victim was forced to admit that he raped his own daughter in order to protect the priest and the church.
According to Police, CWC had tried to cover up the issue and help the main accused Father Robin. The baby was transferred to the Holy infant Mary orphanage and the nuns there allegedly tried to hide the incident.
Father Robin Vadakkumchery was arrested on February 28 while he was trying to escape to Canada.
The co-accused surrendered after the Kerala High Court ordered them to do so on March 14 while hearing their anticipatory bail plea.
The incident came to light on February 7 after the minor gave birth to a boy at a private hospital. The incident had taken place in May 2016. At the time, the girl was engaged in entering data in the parish computer, along with some other girls.
