A Kerala Catholic priest was arrested on Tuesday from Madurai, after he managed to escape following charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy.

Catholic priest Thomas Parakulathil, 32, was arrested by the Kerala Police on Tuesday morning from Madurai, after he ran away when the police reached the church in Puthoor during Mass on Sunday, a top official involved in the case said.

“He has now been brought to Kottarakara and the police are doing their job,” said the official on condition of anonymity.