Jaipur: On Wednesday night, a 52-year-old priest was arrested on the charges of sexually abusing two minor girls at his shelter home. The accused priest, Johnson Chacko, was booked under relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. His wife was also held on Thursday after the police recorded statements of the alleged victims.

During the initial investigation it was found that Chacko had been sexually abusing the two minors for a couple of years. The girls were stuck at Mercy Home, a shelter home for destitute children, run by Chacko and his wife in Tara Nagar. The matter came to light after one of the girls revealed the things going on to her teacher at a nearby school. The school principal then called the police, who raided the shelter home late on Wednesday and also arrested Chacko.

The victims had complained to the priest's wife as well  but instead of taking any action she asked them to keep quiet and said that he is like God. The two girls were sent for medical examination Thursday.

All the 19 inmates were aged between 7 and 12 and have been shifted to a government shelter home. The inmates have even complained that  they were ill-treated and beaten up with metal rods, and also poorly fed.

The authorities have promised to take legal action against the accused.