E-Paper
Kerala Police begin questioning Bishop Mulakkal for second day
Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal has been accused of rape by a nun who alleged he sexually assaulted her 13 times over two years.
After a seven-hour interrogation on Wednesday, the Kerala police began questioning Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal for the second day in a row on Thursday in Kochi over allegations that he had raped a nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016.
The questioning began at 11:10 am. A police officer who did not wish to be named said he may be arrested in the evening because there were many discrepancies in his replies.
Meanwhile, the nuns who have been agitating for 13 days demanding the bishop’s arrest have said they would intensify their stir.
Mulakkal, 54, repeatedly pleaded his innocence, telling his interrogators that he had not gone to Kerala’s Kuravilangad convent on the days when the nun has accused him of assaulting her, officials aware of the developments said. His lawyer and other priests from Jalandhar accompanied Mulakkal when he came for the questioning.
Read | Kerala nun rape case: Bishop Mulakkal writes to Pope Francis, offers to step down for now
The nuns have severely criticised the Kerala police for delaying Mulakkal’s arrest. The victims had pointed out that she had been questioned seven times while the accused just once. She has accused Mulakkal of using his influence. Mulakkal has rejected the allegations, calling them a conspiracy against the church.
In her complaint, the 43-year-old nun said that the bishop sexually assaulted her after summoning her on the pretext of discussing an important issue in 2014. The abuse continued for two more years, she alleged.
