We will continue caring for the children as we have been doing in the past

Sister Nirmala

The head of the Missionaries of Charity, Sister Nirmala, said one of the order's nuns, Sister Francesco, had "clearly overstepped her limits" while punishing four girls who were accused of stealing.

Both Sister Nirmala and Sister Francesco appeared before a Calcutta court earlier this week after a woman sued them over the torture of her daughter.

The court granted them bail on Wednesday.

'Punishment'

The scandal broke when the woman, Kaviran Mondal, accused Sister Francesco of deliberately burning her seven-year-old daughter, Kaveri, on a hot plate.

Sister Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa as superior general of the charity, said in a statement that an investigation by the order had found Sister Francesco guilty of burning four young girls, including Kaveri.

Sister Nirmala was produced in court

She did this to punish them for allegedly stealing her belongings.

"We, the Missionaries of Charity, regret this unfortunate incident. We will continue caring for the children as we have been doing in the past," Sister Nirmala said.

While seeking bail on Wednesday, she told Calcutta's chief metropolitan magistrate that no evidence would be suppressed by the charity.

Embarrassed

Sister Francesco was said to be "very repentant" and was resting inside the charity premises because she was unwell.

Illustrious order

1948: Missionaries of Charity founded 1963: Honoured by Indian Government 1979: Won Nobel Peace Prize 1997: Mother Teresa dies

"The superior general has taken strong exception to the incident," Calcutta's The Telegraph newspaper quoted a source in the charity as saying.

"She [Sister Francesco] has been advised from our office to take rest and discontinue duty."

The BBC's Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta says it is not clear what is going to happen to Sister Francesco.

He says she could face disciplinary action once she gets better, or the charity could try for an out-of-court settlement with Kaviran Mondal to save the order from embarrassment.

The Missionaries of Charity cares for the homeless and dying in Calcutta.