Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been arrested for raping a nun, has been sent to judicial custody till 6 October by a Kerala court on 24 September. He was refused bail by the court on Saturday, 22 September, and sent to two-day police custody.
‘Victim Was Subjected to Rape and Unnatural Sex 13 Times’: Police
In its remand report in the rape case, the police said Franco Mulakkal came to the convent with the intention of sexually assaulting the victim.
“On 5 May 2014, he illegally confined her in room number 20 of the guest house at around 10:48 pm and subjected her to unnatural sexual assault. The accused threatened victim of dire consequences if she ever revealed the incident. He raped her on the next day (6 May 2014) as well. Between 2014-2016, the victim was subjected to rape and unnatural sex for 13 times in the same room. [sic]”Police remand report, as quoted by ANI
Meanwhile, the bishop's counsel told the court that his client's blood sample and saliva were forcefully taken.
Mulakkal became the first bishop in the country to be arrested for rape. One of the five nuns who protested for the arrest of the bishop said on Saturday:
“This protest would not have taken place had our church authorities taken our complaints seriously. We never did this for our benefit, instead we wanted to ensure that there would never be another bishop like Mulakkal who would turn a tormentor.”Nun, as quoted by IANS
The protests were called off on Saturday.
Mulakkal Arrested on Basis of Evidence: Kottayam SP
Earlier, speaking about the arrest of Mulakkal, the Kottayam SP had said:
“On the basis of the evidence collected so far and interrogation that continued for three days, we arrested Bishop Mulakkal at 8 pm on Friday. Subsequent investigation will continue.”Hari Shankar, Kottayam Superintendent of Police
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) had prayed first for the Bishop in its press statement:
“We have learnt from the media about the developments in Bishop Franco Mulakkal’s case. It is a sad moment for all of us. We pray for all involved: Bishop Franco, the nun involved, and the diocese of Jalandhar, and the Congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus. We have full confidence in the judicial system.”
The Vatican had on Thursday, 20 September, divested Mulakkal, who was the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of Missionaries of Jesus, of his religious duties “temporarily”.
Mulakkal has been accused of repeated rape and sexual assault by the Kerala-based nun of Missionaries of Jesus Congregation, but has denied the allegations.
(With PTI inputs and The News Minute)
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