Pastor accused of raping 10-yr-old surrenders

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) Pastor Alexander George, who has been accused of allegedly raping a 10-year old girl in an orphanage in Thane district, surrendered before the Nalasopara police this evening.

Senior Police Inspector Bajirao Bhonsle said George has been kept in a lock-up at Nalasopara police station as of now, and would be produced before a I class magistrate, Vasai, tomorrow.

The victim's teacher - Kavita Bansode had filed a case against the pastor on April 13 of allegedly raping the minor at his 'Wings of Refuge' orphanage.

Since then, the accused had been in hiding, but today he came along with his counsel Ashok Kumar while surrendering before police.

Meanwhile, Sunder Raj, an employee of the orphanage, was released last night by police after being kept in custody for four days, for investigation into the matter.

Earlier, Alexander had alleged that the entire case was fabricated as a part of a larger vendetta to defame him by a group of former parishers (Church-goers).

On enquiring about the former parishers, Alexander alleged that one Venkatachalam, secretary of the South Indian Seva Samajam in Nalasopara, had an illicit relation with a married woman, who was working as a clerk in the nearby Sharada Vidayalaya.

On opposing their relationship, the duo left the parish following the withdrawal of 34 children from the Sharada Vidayalaya by the orphanage authorities to avoid further embarrasment.

The pastor alleged that the duo, along with complainant (Kavita Bansode) and another parisher, hatched the conspiracy to defame him and his parish.

He added that the alleged victim was kidnapped by the trio prior to the criminal case against him and the police filed a missing compliant instead of a kidnapping case.

UNI GVS GK RL HT1948