A Kerala Catholic priest was arrested on Tuesday from Madurai, after he managed to escape following charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy.

Catholic priest Thomas Parakulathil, 32, was arrested by the Kerala Police on Tuesday morning from Madurai, after he ran away when the police reached the church in Puthoor during Mass on Sunday, a top official involved in the case told IANS.

"He has now been brought to Kottarakara and the police are doing their job," said the official on condition of anonymity.

The arrest occurred after the boy along with his parents hailing from the capital city approached the Poovar police last week saying that he was molested by Parakulathil last year.

After the incident, the boy returned home and it was only after he revealed the reason why he did not want to go back to Kottarakara, that the parents decided to file the complaint.

Based on the complaint, the Poovar police transferred the case to Puthoor Police Station near Kottarakara in Kollam district where the incident took place.

This incident comes close on the heels of another case involving child sexual abuse by a Catholic priest in Kerala. On February 27, police arrested Fr. Robin Vadakkumchery, prime accused in the rape and subsequent impregnation of a 16-year-old girl from Kannur district.

Also read: Minor Kerala girl gives birth: Did family try to ‘cover up’ rape by accused Christian priest?

(With IANS inputs)