A Kerala church priest has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday after he was found guilty of the accusation that he raped and impregnated a minor.

Fr Robin Vadakkumcherry, the prime accused in the Kottiyoor rape case, has also been fined with a sum of Rs. 3 lakh while the court has ordered criminal proceedings against the victim's parents as well. The incident came to light after the victim delivered a baby boy in December 2016, at a hospital in Kannur. After the Childline India officials informed the police regarding the same, a case was registered in February 2017 by the Peravoor police. The girl was later shifted to an adoption centre in Vythiri, Wayanad.

The priest has been serving at the Kandanthitta CSI church the past year and has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. The case has been registered against the accused under Section 367 of IPC and POCSO.