Andhra Pradesh: Guntur court sentences church pastor Koteshwar Rao to 20 years in prison for impregnating minor girl

In a landmark ruling, a court in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh has sentenced Reverend N. Koteswara Rao to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing and impregnating a 15-year-old minor girl.

The fifth additional district judge of Guntur on Monday pronounced a harsh but fitting sentence, convicting Pastor Koteswara Rao of sexual abuse under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Apart from being sentenced to 20 years in prison, the pastor was also fined one lakh rupees. The court noted the gravity of the offence, wherein the pastor, who was entrusted with the spiritual guidance of his community, had abused his power to manipulate and exploit a vulnerable minor.

The verdict came after a six-year trial, a long and painful journey for the victim, who had to face both legal challenges and social stigma. While justice was ultimately served, the lengthy process raises concerns about the obstacles victims face in such cases, especially when the accused holds significant religious authority.

The roots of the case go back to 2018, when Reverend Koteswara Rao, who served at a small church in Venkata Palem village, Guntur district, started targeting a 15-year-old girl who regularly attended his church services. Abusing his position as a trusted church leader, the reverend not only behaved inappropriately towards the minor but also used threats to silence her, dissuading her from speaking out.

The crime only came to light after the girl’s health deteriorated, prompting her parents to take her to a hospital. There, doctors confirmed that she was pregnant, and the victim eventually revealed the truth about the abuse she had suffered. Following the revelation, the victim’s family filed a complaint, leading to the pastor’s arrest and subsequent trial.

While this particular case received much attention due to the involvement of the legal system, it is an example of countless other cases where victims, especially minors, suffer in silence, fearing the consequences for speaking out against powerful religious figures.

Pastor Koteswara Rao’s case highlights a critical issue that extends beyond local communities: the vulnerability of minors in church settings. Children, especially those in rural and marginalized areas, are often taught to trust church leaders implicitly. In these communities, pastors and other figures wield immense power and influence, both spiritually and socially. Unfortunately, this power dynamic creates an environment ripe for exploitation.

Minors are naturally less likely to understand the full extent of the manipulation or abuse they are facing. They are often trapped in a cycle of fear, believing that no one will listen to or believe them, or that they will be punished for exposing a respected authority figure. This leads to many cases going unreported, with victims only coming forward years later, often after suffering significant psychological or physical harm.

In cases like the one in Guntur, it’s not just the direct abuse that’s the problem, but also the lack of support systems for minors to safely report such incidents. Even when the truth comes out, victims face social stigma and isolation, with entire communities sometimes rallying around the accused rather than the survivor.

Pastors in rural or small town settings often wield immense influence over their congregations without social accountability. In the case of Pastor Koteswara Rao, his role as a religious leader meant that people trusted him implicitly. This gave him unchecked authority over the very individuals he was supposed to guide and protect.

Church leaders in such contexts operate without the same level of oversight or control that one would expect in larger, urban settings. This lack of accountability allows abuses of power to continue. In some cases, even when accusations are made, the church itself may act to protect the accused, fearing reputational damage or loss of followers. This has been the case in many cases around the world, where the church has protected the predator rather than the victim.

This case is not an isolated one. Around the world, the Church has been rocked by numerous scandals involving sexual abuse, particularly of minors. In countries such as the United States, Ireland, Australia and beyond, thousands of victims have come forward with harrowing stories of abuse at the hands of priests, pastors and other religious figures. Investigations have revealed a disturbing pattern of cover-ups, in which church officials, rather than exposing abusers, relocated them to other parishes, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.

In India, cases like that of Pastor Koteswara Rao show that the problem is not limited to the church or any particular faith.

The Christian community, both in India and globally, has a moral obligation to address the problem of sexual abuse within its institutions. However, there is a persistent failure to do so. Many communities remain reluctant to disclose or acknowledge abuse for fear that it will tarnish the reputation of the church. This reluctance to address the problem directly has allowed abusers to continue their actions without facing the consequences.

The Christian community is expected to be willing to confront these dark events openly. This includes not only holding abusers accountable, but also creating safe spaces where victims can come forward without fear of retribution or stigma. The church must also implement meaningful reforms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and the protection of the vulnerable.

This case, while solved, is just the tip of the iceberg. Sexual abuse in church institutions is a global problem that requires a concerted and sustained effort to address. Until meaningful change occurs, victims like the 15-year-old girl in Guntur will continue to suffer in silence and church institutions will continue to lose the trust of the people they claim to serve.