Kerala Catholic priest arrested for raping 17-year-old girl

Kannur (Kerala): A Catholic priest in Kerala was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl, who subsequently gave birth to a baby boy, police said.

Robin Vadakkanchery, 49, a parish vicar near Kannur, was also the manager of the Church-backed school, where the girl was a Class 11 student.

Vadakkanchery was taken into custody on Monday night when he was reportedly getting ready to slip out of the country as police after him following a complaint registered by the Childline agency that works among school children.

The police official leading the probe told media persons that this act has been done by a person who is duty bound to protect children and give them the right perspective on life.

"And when someone like that becomes an accused, the charges will be very strong," the police official added.

Police is now probing the role of the hospital where the girl delivered the baby if they followed all the necessary documentary procedures.