Benedict Anto, Representational Image | Photo: ANI, Mathrubhumi Archives
Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu): A special team of police on Tuesday arrested a priest, who had been on the run in connection with a sexual assault case. The accused has been identified as Fr Benedict Anto, a Catholic priest. Earlier, several obscene photos and videos of the priest had emerged on social media after his phone and laptops were allegedly stolen.
As per reports, a nursing student from Kanyakumari had lodged the complaint against Anto with the district superintendent of police. According to the complainant, the priest sexually abused whenever she went to the church.
The accused had also rang up the girl’s mother and forced her to ask her daughter to make a video call to him. Following which, the complainant called the priest who later harassed her online. She decided to lodge a complaint on learning that he was abusing other girls too.
On the basis of the complaint, the police had booked Anto under sexual abuse and two sections of the IT Act as well. Following this, he fled the place and search operations were underway. The obscene videos of the priests emerged on social media a week back.