Rapist ex-Kerala priest seeks bail to marry his minor victim, SC denies
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court declined the plea ex-Catholic priest Robin Vadakkumcherry for an interim bail to marry the minor girl he raped and impregnated. The top court refused to entertain his plea and asked him to approach the Kerala High Court.
The government did not oppose the plea seeking permission to marry. Adv Harin P Raval who represented the state in the case requested the court not to grant bail, reported The Indian Express.
The rape survivor approached the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking permission to marry her rapist, Robin Vadakkumcherry. According to the application, the request is being submitted as per her own wish. She said that it is necessary for her to marry Robin Vadakkumchery as she needs to add his name to the school records of her son.
The Kerala priest had raped and impregnated the girl, who was in class 11 at the time (in 2016). The girl belonged to the parish where the priest was assigned. After writing her class 10 exams, the victim was doing data-entry work for the parish.
The predator took her to his bedroom one afternoon and raped her. He also commanded her to keep it a secret. The victim did not reveal the incident to anyone and went to school and church. She gave birth to a child in February 2017, reported Mathrubhumi.
The Catholic Church initiated the process to dismiss him from the priesthood after his sentencing. He was defrocked by the Vatican in 2020.
He was preparing to leave the country when he was arrested on 27 February 2017. He was sentenced to 20 years by The Thalassery court in February 2019 under POCSO. A total of 60 years imprisonment on various charges was given but he can serve all the sentences together.
The court also fined him Rs 1.5 lakh to be given to the victim. The victim and her mother had turned hostile. But the court ruled on the basis of evidence.
