The police on Thursday registered a case of rape against a Catholic priest in Ollur, Thrissur district, based on a complaint filed by the parents of a minor girl.
According to the police, Fr Raju Kokkan, parish priest at St Paul’s Church in Thaikattussery, had undressed the 10-year-old girl and photographed her private parts when she visited him in church on April 8, 11 and 24.
The police said the priest abused the girl for the first time when she was at the parish in connection with her holy communion. The priest is learnt to have taken the girl into his room in the parish by promising her new clothes for the event. The girl told her parents about the incident only on Thursday. N K Surendran, Ollur Circle Inspector, told Deccan Herald that the 44-year-old priest has been booked under Section 376 of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.