Want to be a
Soolegal Member
Team SoOLEGAL
18 Jul 2018 10:30am

Kerala Church Scandal: SC adjourns hearing of anticipatory bail plea till July 19

0
0
5
0

The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the anticipatory bail plea filed by two priests in connection with the Kerala Church rape case till Thursday, July 19.

A bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan deferred the hearing on the grounds that the case needs to be heard at length.

“We are not saying anything. But since the matter has come here do not do anything for one day”, Justice Sikri said to senior Counsel V Giri representing the State of Kerala.

Case background:

The victim is a married woman, whose husband had approached the Bishop of the Marthomma Church and submitted a complaint alleging that a number of priests of the Church were involved in gross sexual impropriety.

After the matter was leaked to the media, Veteran CPI(M) leader and chairman of the Kerala Administrative Reforms Commission brought it to the attention of the State Police Chief. A report submitted to the Kerala Police Chief revealed that a cognizable offence was committed, warranting the registration of a crime.

On July 2, the crime branch registered a case against Father Soni Abraham Varghese, Father Jaise K George and two other priests belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, on the basis of statements given by a woman accusing them of sexually assaulting her on several occasions.

The accused priests approached the Kerala High Court soon after rape charges were levelled against them by the Kerala Police. However, the Kerala HC rejected their application for anticipatory bail, following which they approached the Supreme Court.

 


Tagged: Supreme Court Anticipatory Bail Kerala Church Sex Scandal Kerala High Court Rape Cases
Did you find this write-up useful? YES 0 NO 0
Active Members view all

New Members view all