KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted bail to Fr Johnson V Mathew, one of the four priests of the Malankara Orthodox Church accused of raping a woman. According to the prosecution, Mathew - the third accused in the case - was a senior of the victim in college and contacted her via WhatsApp.
He allegedly morphed her face onto the nude picture of another woman and threatened to circulate it on the Internet if she did not accompany him to Kozhencherry. She was taken in a car to Elanthoor and various other places and was subjected to sexual assault.
Mathew was arrested on July 13. According to Mathew, though he was arrested, his custody was not sought by the police. He is now attached to St Antony's Orthodox Church, Konni.
The prosecution argued that the allegations are grave and if Mathew is released on bail, he will influence the witnesses and tamper with evidence. While granting bail, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan observed that the prosecution has no case that that petitioner had subjected the victim to penetrative sexual assault. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the petitioner is entitled to bail.
The court directed the priest to furnish a bond of Rs 1 lakh and two solvent sureties for a similar sum. He should appear before the investigation officer on all Mondays and Saturdays for a period of three months or until the final report is filed, whichever is earlier.
He shall not enter Tiruvalla police station limits until the final report is filed, except for complying with conditions of the court order. He shall not leave the country without the court's permission. Meanwhile, Fr Job Mathew, the second accused in the case, approached the HC seeking bail and the court sought the government's view.
The priest has been in jail since July 13 and the probe is almost complete. Hence, further detention is not necessary, said the petitioner.
According to the prosecution, the woman had divulged her relationship with the first accused during confession. Later, the petitioner threatened her that the confession will be revealed to her husband. She was subject to sexual abuse on more than one occasion by summoning her to an institution that was being managed by the first accused.