Summary:
Fr Varghese surrendered before Thiruvalla magistrate court and Fr George surrendered before the investigation officer at the Kollam crime branch office.Fr Varghese has been remanded to judicial custody for 10 days. The case was registered based on the statement of the woman complainant.Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has been mired in controversy after the woman’s husband accused the priests of using her confession to blackmail and sexually abuse her.The priests have been relieved from their church duties temporarily. The apex court had also asked Fr Abraham Varghese (Sony), the first accused in the case, and Fr Jaise K George, the fourth accused, to surrender by August 13.The priests, attached to Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church , were at large ever since the FIR was registered against them on July 2. According to Josy Cherian, crime branch DSP, the probe team will approach the court for the custody of the clergymen. KOTTAYAM: Two priests , accused of blackmailing and raping a woman parishioner for years, surrendered before the authorities on Monday, days after the Supreme Court cancelled the interim protection from arrest given to the two clergymen..