The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Kerala Police to file a status report on the probe into the sex abuse charges against four priests of the Malankara Orthodox Church. A bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan gave the state police two weeks to file the report.
The court will now take up the matter on August 6. The accused priests will not be arrested till that date.
On July 19, the Supreme Court had reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of some of the accused.
The Kerala High Court had turned down their anticipatory bail plea following which they approached the apex court.
The scandal hit the headlines after the husband of the victim complained to the Bishop of the Church against the priests and submitted a complaint alleging sexual impropriety.
After an uproar, police submitted a report saying a cognizable offence was made out, warranting the registration of a crime. The victim’s statement was recorded before a Magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC. She claimed that she had been blackmailed into having sexual relations with the accused priests.
The accused have, however, denied the charges of rape.
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