School Girl Impregnated By Kerala Priest Says She Is Not A Minor And The Sex Was Consensual

In a major setback in the rape case involving a Catholic priest in Kerala, the first prosecution witness, the petitioner has turned hostile in the court.

On the first day of the trial in the Thalassery Additional district sessions court on Wednesday, the girl contradicted her earlier statement and said that she was not raped by Father Robin Vadakkumchery and they had consensual sex. She also told the court that the suspended priest was the father of her child and she wants to have a family life with him.

AFP/FILE

She also told the court that her earlier statement given to police and before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC was under pressure.

The girl who was a school student also told the court that she was an adult at the time when she got into the relationship with Fr Robin.

According to the school records and her birth certificate, the girl was a minor when the incident happened.

But when asked by the prosecution if she was ready to undergo scientific tests to ascertain her age, the girl refused.

After her dramatic u-turn on the request of the prosecution, the court declared that the witness has turned hostile.

The case dates back to May 2016 when Fr Robin, who was serving as the priest at St. Sebastian Church at Neendunokki, near Kottiyoor, raped and impregnated the girl who was a Class VII student at the school where the accused was the manager.

AFP/FILE

The incident came to light in February 2017 after the girl gave birth to a child in a church-run hospital and the Childline authorities got an anonymous tip-off.

After the case was reported, it was also alleged that the church authorities tried to shield the accused and even shifted the newborn baby to a church-run orphanage in a neighbouring district.

He was arrested by police while trying to flee the country.

It was also alleged that Fr Robin had offered Rs 10 lakhs to the father of the girl to tell the police that he had raped and impregnated his own daughter.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday discharged three of the 10 accused in the case, citing lack of evidence.

Gynecologist Tessy Jose, hospital administrator Ancy Mathew and paediatrician Hyder Ali, all three who were the staff in the church-run Christuraj Hospital where the girl was under treatment and gave birth were accused of covering up the crime, but the court said there was no evidence against them.

The court, however, held that two other accused, Fr Thomas Therakam and Sister Betty Jose who were the chairman and member respectively of the child welfare committee in Wayanad should face trial in the case.

PTI

With the petitioner herself turning hostile, it is very likely that Fr Robin who was arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) will avid the life imprisonment under the law.

Even if he is acquitted, Fr Robin cannot continue as a priest, as the girl has told the court that he is the father of her child.