The Crime Branch (CB) has submitted a chargesheet against Father James Erthayil, a priest who allegedly attempted to influence a key witness in a nun rape case.

Gireesh P.Sarathy, Deputy Superintendent, District Crime Branch, said the chargesheet against Father Erthayil had been submitted at the Pala Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.

As per the chargesheet, the accused had been found guilty under IPC Section 214 for offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender, IPC 506(1) for criminal intimidation, and Section 120 of the Kerala Police Act.

Father Erthayil had made a phone call to one of the witnesses in the case and attempted to bribe her to withdraw support to the survivor nun. After an audio clip of the conversation was leaked, the Kuravilangadu police booked a case against the priest, which was later handed over to the district Crime Branch.

Meanwhile, the CB is soon slated to file the chargesheet against the public relations officer of the MJ Congregation for allegedly publishing a photo of the survivor nun.

According to officials, the investigation in the case is in final stages and the chargesheet will be submitted at the JFCM, Pala, in the coming days. The case pertains to a report put out by the congregation, which also carried a photo of the victim nun sitting along with Bishop Franco, accused of raping her, at a function.

Following this, the Kuravilangadu police registered a case against Sister Amala, PRO of the Congregation under IPC 228 A.