Five Kerala priests from the Malankara Orthodox Church (MOC) were suspended on June 23, for blackmailing and sexually abusing a woman.
The move came in after an audio clip containing a man's purported conversation with a church official alleging sexual abuse of his wife by the priests went viral on social media.
In the clip, the man alleges that his wife was assaulted by a priest before their marriage.
Moreover, some priests allegedly used his wife's secret confession to blackmail her.
"If they are found guilty, necessary action will be taken against them... The accused will not be shielded and innocent will not be punished," the Kottayam-based church said in a statement.
The man came to know about the alleged sexual abuse and blackmailing by priests after checking his wife's e-mail account, according to Telegraph India.
He has leveled allegations against eight priests, but has reportedly named only five priests as the role of three others in the incident could not be established.
