Kottayam: A Keralite Catholic priest, accused of raping a Bangladeshi woman, surrendered before a court in Vaikom on Friday.
Fr Thomas Thanninilkkumthadathil from Maniyathuruth near Kallara had been booked by the Kaduthuruthy police for allegedly raping the Bangladeshi woman with British citizenship.
In her complaint filed at Kaduthuruthy, the 42-year-old woman alleged that the priest raped her in Kerala after befriending her on Facebook. Thomas, 36, committed the offence after promising her that he would marry her, she alleged. The police said Thomas was currently serving as vicar of a church at Perumthururth near Kaduthuruthy.
The woman told the police that she first came to Perumthuruth on January 7 along with a man from Zimbambwe. According to the complaint, the priest raped her at the parsonage and a hotel room before she went back. She returned to Kerala again on February 12. This time the priest met her at a hotel in Kumarakom. She said he decamped with her gold and diamond jewelery and money from the hotel room. The police subjected the woman to medical tests.
The priest said he was being framed.
The priest was reportedly absconding after the complaint filed against him Wednesday.
The Pala diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic church had issued a release on Thursday, stating that the accused has been dismissed from pastoral service and 'all stages of priesthood.' An explanation was sought from him after summoning him to the diocese on February 13 when the Church authorities came to know about his 'misconduct', it said. The diocese said it would fully cooperate with the legal action initiated against the priest.
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