A Kerala Church has removed a priest from all his duties and positions for two months following protests by the laity against his 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.

Kurien had accepted BJP membership from junior foreign minister V. Muraleedharan along with 47 other Christians at a BJP Christmas gathering in Pathanamthitta on December 30.

His decision prompted the laity to demand on Wednesday that he be removed from all his positions and pastoral duties. The protesters alleged that Kurien had joined the BJP to save himself from being prosecuted on sexual harassment charges.

A Christian woman had lodged complaints with the police and the Kerala Women’s Commission about three weeks ago accusing Kurien of sexual harassment. No FIR has been registered yet.

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 protesting laity had said they had no objections to a priest joining any political party per se, but they were against anyone holding a high position in the Church doing so. Kurien was secretary of the Nilackal Diocese and vice-president of its Sunday School.

The BJP projected Kurien as a big catch since he is a priest with one of the most influential Christian denominations in the state. But his induction into the party has triggered a raft of social media posts accusing him of various scandals.

Kurien accepted BJP membership in the presence of at least two senior clergymen, including the former head of the Thumpamon Diocese of his Church, Kuriakose Mar Cleemis. But the retired bishop later issued a statement saying he did not know the Christmas gathering would turn into a political event.

Kurien attributed his decision to join the BJP to his desire to work under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I wish to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Modiji because I realise that the nation’s growth is our growth,” he told reporters.

Several other Christian leaders too have angered the laity by attending a Christmas event held by the Prime Minister in Delhi last week.