The man, a native of Shimoga and in his early 50s, has been detained and "sent for medical examination as he was suspected to be mentally unsound", Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Division) Sonia Narang told PTI.
The DCP rubbished allegations made by the mother of the boy and neighbours that the priest was trying to sacrifice the child.
"The man is mentally unsound. He just lured the child residing in neighbourhood into his house saying he would give him biscuits and was reciting mantras in the puja room while the boy was happily roaming in the house. No weapon or any other object with which sacrifice could be done has been found in the house," Narang said.
Even after he was detained, he had been reciting mantras.
