Kerala priests accused of raping, blackmailing woman surrender
Kottayam, Aug 13 (IBNS): Two Kerala priests, who are accused of raping and blackmailing a woman, surrendered before a local court on Monday, media reports said.
The priests have been allegedly blackmailing the woman for several years.
The two priests had reportedly approached the court for protection against arrest.
The entire episode came to light when an audio clip of the victim's husband complaining to a church official was posted online and then circulated.
The husband alleged that the priests, who are based at the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kottayam, had sexually abused her wife. He also alleged that his wife was even blackmailed for many years.
Speaking to NDTV, her husband said when she reached out to the priests for help, they threatened and assaulted her.
"The main culprit, the Father, promised to marry her and continued to manipulate her. The Father was a student at that time. Even after finishing his seminary and becoming a priest, he continued the same pattern. Even after we got married in 2006, the priest continued to sexually abuse my wife, blackmail her, saying that he would tell me everything. I got to know all this only in February," the husband told the news channel.
The woman has reportedly recorded her statement with the police.
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