Rape-accused Bishop Mulakkal moves SC, wants case dismissed

Rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, claiming innocence and urging it to dismiss the sexual harassment case registered against him based on a complaint by a nun in Kerala’s Kottayam in 2018.

In his petition, Mulakkal claimed he has been implicated in the case after he questioned the financial dealings of the nun. His discharge pleas were earlier dismissed by the Kerala High Court on July 7, and by the trial court in March this year.

Dismissing his plea, Justice V Shircy of the Kerala High Court had admitted the prosecution argument that there was prima facie evidence against Mulakkal in the rape case, which was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the Jalandhar diocese nun.

In her complaint, the nun had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Mulakkal during 2014-2016. The senior priest was arrested by the Kerala Police in September, 2018, and charged with wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.

After the charges against Mulakkal surfaced, he was removed as the Jalandhar bishop. He had, meanwhile, tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month.

Related news: Vatican dismisses plea by nun who protested against Franco Mulakkal