India, July 17 -- A woman was arrested for allegedly initiating sexual relationships with monks and using videos and images of the acts to blackmail several senior members of the clergy. According to the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau, at least nine abbots and senior monks were named in the scandal. They were later disrobed and cast out of the monkhood.

A woman in her mid-30s, Wilawan Emsawat, was arrested by the authorities at her home in Nonthaburi province, north of Thailand's capital, Bangkok.

The allegations of possible violation of the celibacy rule for monks have rocked the country, especially the Buddhist institutions. The monks belong largely to the Theravada sect. According to the laws of the sect, they are vow...