Stories
Mangaluru Priest Arrested For Alleged Sexual Abuse Of Minors
- •Father Cyprian Pinto of St Vincent Ferrer Church was arrested following intervention by the Mysuru-based NGO Odanadi.
- •The accused allegedly lured minor boys with chocolates and subjected them to sexual abuse in rooms near the church.
- •Police have registered a case against the priest under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- •The NGO alleged that the diocese delayed action by conducting an internal inquiry instead of reporting the matter to authorities.
Key Questions Answered
Father Cyprian Pinto was arrested following the intervention of a Mysuru-based NGO named Odanadi, which brought the matter to Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy. After police met the alleged victims and facilitated a complaint, an FIR was registered, and the priest was subsequently tracked down and arrested at a relative's house in Sakleshpur.
A case has been registered against the priest under Sections 8 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with Section 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the complaint, when the victim's family initially approached the head of the Mangaluru diocese, they were allegedly advised to keep the matter confidential. An NGO representative further alleged that instead of informing competent authorities, the diocese conducted an internal inquiry and placed the priest on administrative leave.
