The management of a church at Gunadala here, which landed in a major controversy following charges of sexual misconduct of a priest, reportedly began inquiry into the episode.
The religious head had paid ransom to a gang. Not satisfied with the payment, the gang demanded more money and threatened the victim, who approached the police.
The priest is understood to have told the police that he paid more than Rs. 1 crore to the gang. He alleged the extortionists, who befriended him, morphed his image in a pornographic film and collected money from him.
“It is a fact that a gang blackmailed the religious head and extorted huge money from him. We are investigating the case from all angles,” said City Police Commissioner D. Gautam Sawang.
However, the church management is inquiring into the behaviour of the religious head and his source of income. It was alleged that a portion of the funds allocated to the shrine and for the poor were misused by him.
The City Task Force police collected details of the gang from the priest and rounded up many of the accused. Police are investigating why the religious head was targeted, how he was trapped and the mode of payment made to the extortion gang.
Investigation officers are trying to find out whether the pornographic film was original or morphed, if so where the film was shot and the persons involved in the act, including the woman. Police collected the call data of the gangsters and are collecting scientific evidence in the case.
Clarification sought
It is said that a follower of the religious head shared sensitive information about the priest, including his financial standing, with the gang which lured him on the pretext of offering a party a few months ago. Later, they started blackmailing him.
The role of some media persons came to the fore as they took duplicate copies of the film and collected money from the priest for not telecasting his illegal activities in the news channels.
“The extortion gang committed similar offences in other places in the State. We are trying to find out whether the media personnel and advocates whose phone numbers were surfaced in the call data recordings were part of the gang?” an investigation officer told The Hindu .
It is learnt that the church management is planning to replace the priest after conducting an inquiry. The heads of the church reportedly sought clarification from the priest on the allegations.
