Arun M By

The Christian priest accused in the Puthenvelikkara rape case in Kerala exploited his position and sexually abused the minor girl for several months. The chargesheet in the case, filed before the Special Court for cases related to atrocities and sexual violence against women and children, states that Fr Edwin Figarez, who was priest of the Puthenvelikkara Lourde Matha Church, sexually abused the 14-year-old victim for one-and-half year.

Meanwhile, Ajitha, the government doctor who has been named the fourth accused in the case, was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). According to the chargesheet, Ajitha failed to inform the matter to the police after learning about the sexual abuse of the minor girl. The doctor came to know about the crime when the victim along with her mother approached her for treatment, while the former was working at the Puthenvelikkara Community Health Centre.