Priest accused of sexually harassing minor boys arrested
Mangaluru police have arrested priest Siprian Pinto of St. Vincent Ferrar Church in Valencia over allegations of aggravated sexual assault involving five 14-year-old boys.
The victim said he narrated the sexual harassment to his parents, and they all went to the Mangaluru Bishop. On his instructions, he was giving the complaint, the boy said.
Updated - October 19, 2026 08:31 am IST - MANGALURU
The Mangaluru police have arrested Siprian Pinto, the priest at St. Vincent Ferrer Church at Valencia in Mangaluru, for alleged aggravated sexual assault on five 14-year-old boys.
Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said Pinto was arrested at the house of his relatives.
The police will produce him before the magistrate after the interrogation and completion of other procedures.
In the complaint before the Mangaluru South police on the night of October 15, one of the victims, a 14-year-old boy, claimed that Pinto gave him a chocolate and said he loved the boy’s smile.
He then took the boy to a room in the church and inappropriately touched him.
On his subsequent visits to the church for prayers, the boy alleged that Pinto touched him inappropriately.
On the evening of August 14, Pinto called the victim to the receptionist room, hugged him and put his hands inside the boy’s undergarments.
Also read: Priest found guilty of abusing minor girl under guise of rituals
The victim then told his four friends, all aged 14, about Pinto’s conduct. His friends said that they too had experienced the same.
The victim said he informed his parents about the sexual harassment, and they all went to the Mangaluru Bishop. On his instructions, they lodged a complaint.
The complaint was registered for offences under Sections 8 (sexual assault) and 9 (aggravated sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 75(2) (sexual harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Published - October 18, 2026 05:32 pm IST
crime / crime, law and justice / sexual assault
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