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Former Indian nun accuses priest of rape

Police officials say no arrests or charges have yet been filed
Former Indian nun accuses priest of rape
Published: February 03, 2015 10:17 AM GMT
Updated: April 24, 2015 03:16 PM GMT

A former nun in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has filed a complaint against a local Catholic priest, accusing him of raping her four years ago.

In the complaint filed last week, the nun alleges that she was raped in April 2010, a year after she was set to work at the Shampura church. She says that the priest took photos of her naked and threatened to release them if she reported him. According to the complaint, she gathered the courage to report him only after the accused was transferred to another diocese.

Officials from the Catholic Church have blasted the complaint, claiming the accusation is a form of retaliation.

Anthony Chirrayath of Sagar claimed that a day before the complaint, the former nun met him demanding incorporation of her name into the family cards of a married man with whom she was living. When he refused, she left “threatening dire consequences”.

“My priest is falsely implicated in the rape charges,” he said.

Diocesan Vicar General Father Robin Davassy called the complaint “nothing but vengeance”.

The complainant couldn’t be reached for comment, but police said they are carrying out an investigation. No arrests or charges have been made.

Several Catholic priests have been prosecuted for rape in recent years in India. 

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