Rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal released on bail

Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun, has been released from Kottayam jail in Kerala. Mulakkal was released from jail on Tuesday after he was granted unconditional bail on Monday by the Kerala High Court. The court, while announcing the bail, directed him to surrender his passport and asked him not to enter Kerala. The prelate, who was in charge of the Jalandhar diocese, was arrested on September 21 after three days of questioning in Kerala on charges of raping a nun of his congregation, Missionaries of Jesus, repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. He became the first Indian Catholic bishop to be arrested in a case of the alleged sex crime against a nun. He, however, refuted the allegations, terming them “baseless and concocted.” The Bishop was temporarily relieved of his pastoral duties by Pope Francis on September 20, after he expressed his desire to 'temporarily step aside', allowing him time to fight his case.