Priest gets bail in sexual molestation case
The complainants have agreed to withdraw the case.
By C. M. Paul
Kolkata:
A diocesan priest in West Bengal, who was arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor, has been granted bail.
The complainants, a fifth grader Rahul Rai, and his father, have agreed to withdraw the case.
Fr. James Soren of Krishnagar diocese, hostel warden of the Don Bosco School at Monigram in Sagordihi panchayat area, was arrested on July 16 for allegedly molesting Rai.
The boy had alleged that the priest had called him to his room and sexually assaulted him.
Things took a different turn after other students revealed that the accused priest had never misbehaved with the complainant or any other boy in the hostel.
The investigation was carried out by Fr. N.T. Scaria, director of Don Bosco Prison Ministry, on July 19 and submitted the report to the Sagardighi police station in Murshidabad district.
The boys also testified that at no time was the warden alone with Rai.
They revealed that Rai had cooked up the story against the priest as the former wanted to leave the hostel and his father was not allowing him.
On the night of July 12, Rai called up his father telling that the priest misbehaved with him, the boys said in the report.
Meanwhile, Bishop Joseph Gomes of Krishnagar has transferred Fr. Soren with immediate effect as assistant parish priest of Chapra in the neighbouring Nadia district.
Rai will return to the school but would not stay in the hostel.
The Salesians of Don Bosco had 12 years ago handed over the school to the management of Krishnagar diocese.
The diocesan priests, however, retained the name of the school.
Priest Gets Bail , Sexual Molestation , Fr. James Soren , Diocesan Priest
Courtesy: UCAN INDIA
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