Three persons, including the former chairman of the Wayanad Child Welfare Committee (CWC), charged with covering up the rape of a minor, allegedly by a Catholic priest, in Kottiyoor, surrendered before the police on Friday.
CWC chairman Fr Thomas Joseph Therakam and one of the committee members, Betty Jose, and Superintendent of the orphanage in Wayanad Sister Ophelia surrendered before the Peravoor Circle Inspector Sunil Kumar, who is the investigating officer in the case, the police said.
“They surrendered at 6.30 a.m... they will be produced before the court after questioning and medical examination,” Mr. Kumar said.
The Kerala High Court, on March 14, directed the four accused, the three and midwife Thangamma, who had moved for bail, to surrender before the investigating officer within five days.
Fr. Robin alias Mathew Vadakkencheril, who was the vicar of the church in Kottiyoor and the prime accused in the case was arrested on February 28 on the charge of sexually exploiting and impregnating the 16-year-old girl.
The victim gave birth to the child on February 7 at a private hospital in Kuthuparamba in Wayanad district.
The child was taken to an orphanage at Vythiri in the district.
The officials of the orphanage had alleged that the CWC did not take any action even though they had informed it about the newborn on February 8, a day after the infant was admitted there.
Eight persons were booked for their alleged role in the sexual exploitation and subsequent delivery of the baby by the girl, the police said.
