A church priest in Mangaluru, Karnataka, has been arrested for sexually abusing five minor boys, following the intervention of a Mysuru-based NGO, Odanadi. The accused, Father Cyprian Pinto, was taken into custody from a relative’s house on Sunday, October 18, after the matter was brought to the attention of the police.
SHOCKING 🚨 Father Cyprian Pinto has been arrested in Mangaluru over allegations of sexually abusing 5 minor boys. A POCSO case has been registered under Sections 8 and 10 of the Act. Police say the case came to light after one boy spoke to his friends and discovered that four others had faced similar abuse. The Mysuru-based NGO Odanadi intervened after complaints reportedly went unaddressed. Pinto has been remanded to judicial custody.
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 19, 2026
Pinto was associated with St Vincent Ferrer Church in Valencia, Mangaluru, and has been serving since 1988. Police said their initial investigation pointed to five children who had faced sexual abuse. Investigators are collecting more details and speaking to the victims.
Complaint details abuse inside church
According to the complaint, the priest once offered chocolates to a minor boy, made inappropriate comments and took him to a room near the church’s sacristy, where he sexually assaulted the child. The complaint also stated that the priest repeatedly touched the boy’s private parts during later visits to the church.
In another incident on August 14, around 6.30 pm, a minor who visited the church to discuss prayers was taken to the receptionist’s room. The priest reportedly hugged the boy tightly and touched him inappropriately.
The child later spoke to his friends and learnt that some of them had faced similar experiences. He then informed his parents about the abuse. When the family approached the head of the Mangaluru diocese, they were advised to keep the matter confidential, according to the complaint.
NGO raises questions over delay
KV Stanley, co-founder of Odanadi, said the matter was brought to the diocese’s attention in August. He claimed that the diocese formed an internal inquiry committee and placed Pinto on administrative leave instead of informing the authorities.
The parents also approached the Karnataka Directorate of Child Protection in Bengaluru. A letter dated August 31 directed the Dakshina Kannada District Child Protection Unit to look into the complaints. However, the family later contacted Odanadi after they did not receive a satisfactory response.
Stanley then contacted Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy. Following his intervention, police met the children and registered a formal complaint.
Case registered under POCSO Act
A case has been registered against Pinto under Sections 8 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police are continuing their investigation into the complaints and gathering further information about the five children.
