Minor rape case: Two absconding nuns surrender, granted bail by court

Kannur: Two nuns, who were absconding after being named as accused in a sexual assault case of a minor girl by a Catholic priest in Kottiyoor in the district, Thursday surrendered before police and were granted bail by a court.

Sister Liz Maria and Sister Anitta are among the 10 accused in the case. They allegedly hid facts related to the incident. The two nuns were questioned, their statements recorded before being produced before a court in Thalassery, which granted them bail.

The Kerala High Court had earlier directed them to surrender before the Peravoor Circle Inspector when their anticipatory bail plea had come up for hearing. They should be produced before the court for bail, the HC had said.

The main accused in the case, Father Robin Vadakkumcherry, who was the Vicar of a church in Kottiyoor, had allegedly raped a minor girl who later gave birth to a boy. He was arrested from Chalakudy in Thrissur district on February 28 after the police lodged a case against him under section 376, IPC (punishment for rape) and the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

It is alleged that the minor girl was shifted to an orphanage at Vythiri in Wayanad district in an attempt to hush up the incident. Two other nuns had earlier surrendered in connection with the case.