Kottayam: A rape accused Catholic vicar Thomas Thaaninilkum Thadathil today surrendered before a court in Vaikom near here.

Thomas, who was stripped of all his positions in the church, had gone underground after a 42-year-old woman from Bangladesh accused him of raping her and looting her jewellery. Thomas, who was vicar of St Mathews Church, Perumthuruthu, Kallara in Kottayam, befriended the woman through social media and pestered her to visit Kerala, police said.

Kaduthuruthy police registered a case against Thomas based on the woman’s complaint. She was shifted to a women’s hostel.