Kerala nun rape: Vatican removes Franco Mulakkal as Jalandhar Bishop, SIT resumes questioning

Sep 20 (AZINS) Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused by a nun of rape, was on Thursday relieved by the Vatican from his pastoral duties in Diocese of Jalandhar. The bishop had recently temporarily relinquished his administrative responsibilities.

This came as the SIT of Kerala police resumed questioning the bishop on Thursday. He was questioned for 7 hours by the Kerala police SIT on Wednesday.

The nun has accused the senior Catholic priest of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016, allegations denied by the clergyman who has pleaded innocence.

The case has come under wide criticism from civil society which has accused the Church of dragging its feet. The case has reached the high echelons of the Catholic hierarchy and has been brought to the notice of the Vatican, reports said.

The Church representative from India is in the Vatican to discuss the issue and is likely to intervene soon, reports had said earlier this week.

Hours after Mulakkal, accused of repeated rape and sexual assault, appeared before the Special Investigation Team for interrogation, the state's DGP Loknath Behera said the investigating officer will decide on whether to arrest him once the examination got over.

"After examining him only a decision will be taken.

Investigating team is examining him. Let us wait. A decision will be definitely taken today or tomorrow after the interrogation," Behera told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

He said the investigating officer was free to take a call on the issue.

When asked whether Mulakkal can be arrested before September 25, the day his anticipatory bail plea will come up for hearing in the high court, the top police officer said, "I think, legally there is no problem. There is no such law (that bars arrest during pendency of bail plea). That we will discuss with the legal team."

Citing convention, legal experts had said the priest is unlikely to be arrested before September 25.

Mulakkal, the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the alleged victim also belongs, was grilled by the SIT headed by DySP K Subhash for seven hours Wednesday. He was asked to appear before it again today.

Meanwhile, the protest by various Catholic reform organisations and a group of nuns seeking Mulakkal's arrest entered its 13th day Thursday.

The agitation at Kochi's Vanchi Square is a spontaneous expression of outrage by these groups over the alleged assault of the nun.

A protesting nun said they were all waiting for the news of the arrest of the bishop so a strong message goes out to those who abuse women.