Three persons, including a woman, were arrested on Wednesday in connection with a complaint filed by one of the supreme priests of Sabarimala, who had alleged that he was manhandled and photographed with a woman.

Police DIG K Padmakumar told PTI that Shobha John, one of the witnesses turned accused in the case, was among those arrested.

In his complaint, the priest Kandararu Mohanaru alleged that he was manhandled and photographed with a woman on July 23 in a flat at Kochi by a six-member gang.

The priest had in his complaint stated that he had gone to the flat belonging to Shobha John in search of a servant.

Soon after he reached the flat, he was allegedly manhandled and photographed, he had stated.

The two others arrested were Vigil and Anil Kumar, two drivers of the woman, police sources said.

The drivers had helped in arranging and bringing into the flat the six-member gang, the sources stated.

Police sources said the three were arrested on charges of extortion.

The priest had at first filed a police complaint stating that some persons had allegedly abducted and taken him to a flat at Kochi on July 23 where he was manhandled and forcibly photographed with a woman.

A ransom amount of about Rs 30 lakh was also asked for. Gold ornaments were also removed from his person, it was stated.

Police immediately began investigations and it was found that the complaint regarding abduction was false.

In a modified statement to police a day later, the priest said he had gone to the flat on his own in search of a servant and he was attacked by a six-member gang.

They also took away his gold ornaments and demanded about Rs 30 lakh ransom amount.