The police investigating the case of rape of a minor girl by a local parish priest will further question him after seeking him in police custody to ascertain if there was negligence on the part of the hospital concerned and other institutions in reporting the case.
The police have already formed a special team to probe all aspects of the rape case. Robin Vadakkancheril, alias Mathew Vadakkancheri (48), who had been arrested on February 28, was in judicial remand.
Parish vicar of the St. Sebastian Church at Neendunoki, near Kottiyur, he had been suspended by the church authorities after the arrest. All details about the case and the alleged negligence on the part of others would be collected only after further questioning Vadakkancheril, Iritty Deputy Superintendent of Police Prajesh Thottathil said.
The police would probe to find out if the arrested had been involved in similar cases. The police would also probe if there was negligence on the part of the hospital at Koothuparamba where the victim had given birth to a baby.
The hospital bill was allegedly paid by the accused. Also under the scanner was the shifting of the newborn baby to an orphanage in Wayanad, the police said adding that the allegation that the priest had attempted to influence the victim's parents would also be investigated.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Jana Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers staged a march to the hospital at Koothuparamba to protest against the alleged collusion of the hospital authorities with the accused to keep the victim's childbirth a secret.
