Chenai pastor arrested on charges of rape, cheating

A 53-year-old pastor has been arrested on the charges of rape and cheating, police said today.

Father Selvaraj of Faith Assembly at Ayanavaram here was arrested yesterday after two women associated with the church accused him of sexual exploitation and cheating, they said.

Besides being allegedly involved in a relationship with one of the women, a volunteer, he also borrowed Rs 3.5 lakh and gold jewels from her which he was yet to return. He also allegedly took Rs 63,000 and some jewels from the other woman, police said.

Despite the women's repeated demands that he repay the money and return the jewellery, Selvaraj kept putting them off, police said, adding, they later filed a complaint against him.

He was charged under different sections of IPC including cheating and harassment.