Three of the accused in the case of rape of the minor girl by a parish priest at Kottiyoor here moved for an anticipatory bail in the District and Sessions Court at Thalassery here on Monday.
The three accused who moved the court for anticipatory bail are Tessy Jose, gynaecologist at the Kristhu Raj Hospital at Koothuparamba, hospital administrator Ancy Mathew and paediatrician Hyderali. The 16-year old girl had given birth to a child at the hospital. The doctors and the administrator were accused of trying to hush up the incident. Four others were also arraigned by the police for colluding with Robin Vadakkancheril alias Mathew Vadakkancheril, vicar of St. Sebastian Church at Kottiyoor, who is the main accused. Fr. Vadakkancheril is now in judicial custody. All the seven accused involved in covering up the issue were absconding, the police said.
Vehicle seized
Meanwhile, the police investigating the case seized a car which had been used for shifting the newborn from the hospital at Koothuparamba to the church-controlled orphanage at Vythiri in Wayanad. The police said that the car is owned by a nuns’ congregation at Iritty.
Police sources said that the the investigating officers had submitted a report to the government citing the alleged failure of the Wayanad Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairman Thomas Joseph Therakam to report the case and take prompt action.
Though the government had announced that he would be removed from the post of the CWC chairman, no removal order was issued till date. The Manathavady diocese on its part had removed Fr. Therakam from the post of diocese spokesperson.
