One Kerala rape-accused priest moves SC for relief from arrest
New Delhi/Thiruvalla, July 14 : One of the two Malankara Orthodox Church priests, who are on the run facing charges of sexual abuse of a parishioner, approached the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking relief from arrest, while the other will do so on Monday, said an official.
Speaking to IANS, a key investigating officer seeking anonymity said Father Sony (Abraham) Varghese on Saturday filed his petition in the apex court, which will be heard on Monday, while another accused, Father Jaice K. George -- currently posted in Delhi -- will file a petition on Monday.
The officer said: "We have got information that one of the accused has already approached the apex court and the other will do it on Monday. We are keenly watching the people harbouring these two priests. Such people will definitely run into trouble."
On Friday, the Crime Branch police probing the case arrested Father Johnson V. Mathew from a house near Thiruvalla. Both him and another priest Father Job Mathew, who was arrested on Thursday, have been remanded to judicial custody.
"We have gathered crucial evidence with regard to the crime that the two arrested priests have committed. These will definitely help us shape up the case," the officer added.
While the four priests have been made accused in the case, Johnson V. Mathew has not been charged for rape but "for outraging the modesty of a lady".
The arrest of the accused priests became a certainty after the Kerala High Court on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of three of them.
A woman, who regularly visited the Malankara Orthodox Church, has accused five priests of sexually abusing her for a decade. Her husband has complained that she was subjected to sexual overtures by five priests.
Initially, it was only one priest who first exploited his wife and then started blackmailing her. When she sought help from another priest, he too threatened her and shared her contact with a fellow priest and she was eventually victimised by five of them.
One priest, however, escaped action as the victim mentioned only four names, the investigating officer said.
The National Commission for Women is monitoring the case.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
US Election Results 2024: Donald Trump claims election victory, says God spared my life for a reason
Washington DC: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is on the verge of a landslide victory in the 2024 US election, as he leads with 267 electoral college votes, just three short of the required 270 to secure the presidency. In a triumphant speech, the 78-year-old thanked his supporters, calling the win a "magnificent victory for the American people."
Trump, who survived an assassination attempt earlier this year, remarked, "God spared my life for a reason," attributing his survival to this political moment. He described the Republican campaign as the "greatest political movement of all time," vowing to "help the country heal" and address key issues like border security.
Kamala Harris, the incumbent Vice President and Trump’s main opponent, currently trails with 214 electoral votes. Trump's victory has been bolstered by Republican success in battleground states, flipping seven swing states that had largely supported Democrats in 2020. So far, Trump has secured Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, while leading in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada.
In addition to the presidency, Republicans are also on course to secure control of the Senate and are leading in the race for the House of Representatives, further cementing the party's dominance in the US political landscape.
Trump concluded his speech by thanking his running mate JD Vance, his family, and high-profile supporters like Elon Musk for their backing during the challenging campaign.
