Kerala rape case: Complainant turns hostile, says she had consensual sex with Kottiyoor priest
The complainant also told a court in Thalassery that she was not a minor at the time of the incident in 2016.
The woman who had accused Kerala Catholic priest Mathew Robin Vadakkuncheril of raping her turned hostile on Thursday and told the court hearing the case that she had consensual sex with the priest. The complainant also said that she wants to marry Vadakkuncheril, The Indian Express reported on Friday.
The alleged rape took place in May 2016 at St Sebastian’s Church in Kottiyoor village of Kannur district, and the prosecution has filed a chargesheet against Vadakkuncheril and nine others.
Special Prosecutor Beena Kaliyath told reporters that the complainant, who appeared before a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences court in Thalassery on Wednesday, also claimed that she was not a minor when she had sex with the priest.
“She admitted that she had sexual intercourse with the priest, but it was not under threat,” Kaliyath said. “She claimed that she had attained the age of consent when the incident happened. The complainant told the court she wanted to marry the accused priest and sought the custody of her child.’’
On Thursday, the complainant’s mother also turned hostile and corroborated her daughter’s claim that she was not a minor at the time of the incident. The mother also denied the role of Thankamma Nelliyani, the second accused, and her daughter Liz Maria, who is a nun. Nelliyani and Maria had allegedly attempted to cover up the incident by moving the complainant’s newborn child out of the hospital.
Kaliyath said the prosecution had not yet decided on examining the complainant’s father, who is the third witness, fearing that he would also turn hostile. “Although the complainant told the court she was not a minor at the time of the incident, she has taken government compensation of Rs 2 lakh,” the special prosecutor added.
The complainant’s father had initially claimed that he had raped his own daughter. He later changed his statement.
The Supreme Court has so far acquitted doctors Tessy Jose and Hyder Ali, and hospital administrator Ancy Mathew.
The Catholic church in Kerala has been rocked by controversies in recent weeks, with multiple complaints of abuse and rape being filed against priests.