Kerala nun rape case: Chargesheet filed against accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal

A police team probing the rape charges against Bishop Franco Mulakkal has filed on Monday a chargesheet against him. The Bishop was arrested in September last year, but was later granted bail.

According to reports, investigating officer K. Subash, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vaikom, submitted the chargesheet before the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Pala. The chargesheet has more than 100 pages.

Mulakkal is accused of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a nun between 2014 and 2016 during his visits to a convent in Kottayam. The Kerala High Court had granted bail to the 54-year-old Catholic priest on October 15 on conditions that he does not come to Kerala except for appearing before the probe officer once in two weeks on Saturdays, and should surrender his passport before the court. This condition would be applicable till a charge sheet is filed in the case. 

In her complaint to the Kottayam Police in June, the nun had alleged that Bishop Mulakkal raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and later sexually exploited her on several occasions.

The nun said she had to approach the police as the church authorities did not act on her repeated complaints against the clergyman. However, the bishop has denied the charges as “baseless and concocted,” insisting she levelled those as the Catholic order had rejected her demand for favours.