Vaikom: A Syro-Malabar catholic church, who has been accused of rape by a Bangladeshi woman surrendered in a local court near here on Friday.

Fr Thomas (36), the vicar of Perumthuruth Saint Mathews church at Kallara here, surrendered before a court here. The police moved the court seeking his custody.

Thomas has, however, refuted the allegation of the woman, saying the foreigner is trying to extort money from him raising false allegations.     

The woman, who is based in UK, accused Thomas of raping her after befriending her on Facebook. She filed the complaint at Kaduthuruthy in the district on Wednesday.

In her complaint, the 42-year-old woman alleged that the priest raped her in Kerala after promising her that he would marry her.

Source: Madhyamam