Pastor Simon, wanted for Kidnapping and Raping a Housewife, Arrested

Pathanamthitta: An absconding pastor,who was guilty of having kidnapped a housewife and raped her, has been arrested, after being elusive for three years. Simon Johny, the 50 year old pastor had reached the woman’s house under the pretext of prayer sessions and kidnapped her. He was nabbed by Kozhencherry CI, from his rented house on Changanassery- Ponkunnam route, after a tip off.

According to police records, the pastor had seduced the woman in 2012 and kidnapped her. After having housed her in his residence, he would systematically subject her to various drugs and sedatives and subject her to the torture. He was also guilty of having taken lewd pictures of the woman. 

However, with the woman having been missing for more than three months, a complaint was registered with the police by her husband. A habeus corpus  was filed following which the pastor produced her before the court. “But he did not leave here after that and started blackmailing her with the lewd pictures and demanded a hefty amount from her. A complaint was registered again in CJM Court, Pathanamthitta, following which the pastor went into hiding,” said police sources. 

When he knew that he was about to be nabbed, Pastor Simon tried to flee on his bike. However, with police on hot pursuit, forcing him to surrender in Ponkunnam station. He has been remanded for 14 days.