A Kerala church has removed a priest from his duties following protests against him for joining the BJP while holding influential positions in the diocese.

Officially, the Nilackal Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church removed Fr Shaiju Kurien while citing a three-week-old sexual harassment allegation against him and starting an internal probe into the matter, reported The Telegraph.

Last month, Shaiju Kurien accepted the membership of the party along with 47 other Christians at a BJP Christmas gathering in Pathanamthitta.

His decision prompted the laity to demand on Wednesday that he be removed from all his positions and pastoral duties, reported the newspaper.

Protesters alleged that he joined the party to save himself from being prosecuted on sexual harassment charges.

A Christian woman earlier lodged complaints against him with the police and the Kerala Women’s Commission, accusing him of sexual harassment.

No FIR has been lodged so far.

The Diocesan Council, which met late on Thursday, appointed a commission to inquire into the sexual harassment allegation and removed Kurien temporarily from all his responsibilities till the probe findings are submitted in two months’ time, the newspaper reported.