Malankara Orthodox Church rape case: SC stays arrest of 2 accused till August 6

New Delhi, July 26: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked to stay the arrest of two accused, Father Jaise K George and Father Sony Varghese, till August 6 in Malankara Orthodox Church rape case. Also, the apex court asked Kerala government to furnish a status report by August 6 in the case of rape and molestation against four priests.

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to Job Mathew, a Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church priest, who was arrested on July 12 from Kollam, in connection with a rape and molestation case. He had been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 34-year-old woman.

Justice V Rajavijaya Raghavan ordered Mathew to appear before the investigating officer twice a week, and warned him against influencing witnesses or tampering with the evidence, PTI reported. The court also directed the priest not to leave the country.

Mathew is the second accused in the case. Three weeks ago, the Kerala Police Crime Branch had booked four priests of the church on charges of rape and molestation.