Cuttack: The Orissa High Court today rejected the bail plea of Dara Singh, the prime accused in the murder of Catholic priest Father Arul Doss in the State's Mayurbhanj district in 1999.

Three of the other accused - Rajkishore Mahanta, Jadunath Mahanta and Cheema Ho - who are out on bail have been directed to appear and surrender before the lower court by September 23.

In 2007, Dara along with his three aides had been sentenced to life imprisonment by Mayurbhanj District and Sessions court for killing the catholic priest a few years back. According to the prosecution, Dara, whose real name is Rabindra Kumar Pal, along with 20 other associates had raided the Catholic Church at Jamabani village within Mahuldiha police limits of Mayurbhanj district on the night of September 1, 1999 and set it ablaze. Father Arul Doss, the pastor, was attacked with bows and arrows and succumbed to injuries.

The incident had taken place when Dara had already been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Orissa High Court for burning alive Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons in January that year. Police had framed charges against four of the accused and the trial had started in 2004. While the district court had acquitted 17 accused for lack of evidence, Dara and three others were awarded life sentence after examining 23 witnesses. Following the announcement, Dara's lawyer had stated that they would appeal against the verdict in the Orissa High Court.