48-year-old Robin Vadakkancheril a Catholic priest was arrested in Kochi on the charge of sexually abusing a minor girl who later gave birth to a child. Kerala police has identified the priest as the vicar at the St Sebastian’s Church in Kottiyoor in Kannur district. He has been charged under the POCSO Act and IPC section 376. Fr Vadakkancheril is from the Syro-Malabar Catholic diocese of Mananthavady and had served as director of the Church-run daily Deepika and Jeevan TV before moving to Kottiyoor.

He had worked with a college under the diocese. Police said that the victim was a school girl, the daughter of farmer. Police said the priest had raped the girl in his bedroom at the parsonage attached to the church.

“There was only one incident of abuse came to light,’’ police said.

“The girl gave birth to a child three weeks ago. The newborn was handed over to a private orphanage in Wayanad district. After the case was registered, the baby was handed over to a government-run orphanage in Kannur,’’ police said.

“Initially, the girl said she was abused by her own father. Later, when we questioned her in detail with the help of policewomen, the girl disclosed the name of Fr Robin,’’ police said.

Incidentally, he used to speak against sexual abuse of children and had even alerted police a few months ago about a sex racket in the region.

By Premji