Kerala priest gets 20-yr RI for raping girl

THALASSERY: A former vicar of a Catholic church near here was on Saturday sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping and impregnating a minor in 2016.

Thalassery POCSO Court Judge P S Vinod also slapped a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Robin Vadakkencheril (51). The accused was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment each under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sentences would run concurrently.

The girl had later given birth to a baby boy at a private hospital in Kuthuparamba in Kannur and was shifted to an orphanage at Vythiri in neighbouring Wayanad district.

Half of the fine amount will be given to the victim.

The court has awarded the sentence under various provisions of the POCSO Act and Section 376 (2) (f) (rape of girl under 12 years) of the IPC.

The court also directed initiation of criminal proceedings against the girl’s parents who had turned hostile.