The SIT of the Kerala police summoned bishop Franco Mulakkal, who had allegedly sexually abused a nun, for Friday after a day-long interrogation on Thursday. The state police chief said a decision on Mulakkal's arrest could be taken in a day or two.
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.
A five-member team of the Kerala police led by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash interrogated the bishop at the Crime Branch for allegedly raping a nun. This is the second police interrogation that bishop Mulakkal will face in connection with the alleged crime.
Earlier, a police team from Kerala had travelled to Jalandhar to question him. On Tuesday, Mulakkal, filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Kerala High Court claiming allegations against him were a "cooked up story to wreak vengeance".Â
Citing convention, legal experts said police may not arrest Mulakkal, who recently stepped aside as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, since his anticipatory bail plea is pending before the high court. However, police can still arrest him if it has sufficient evidence, they said. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police has asked him to appear before it Wednesday.Â
Here are the highlights:Â
# 7:30 pm:Â Franco Mulakkal has been summoned for questioning tomorrow
#4.30 pm:Â The Vatican relieves Franco Mulakkal of his pastoral duties in Diocese of Jalandhar.
#2.10 pm:Â Members of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) protest outside Crime Branch (CID) in Kochi where the rape accused ex-Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal is being interrogated by a 5-member team for the second day.
#2.00 pm: "Even if it's one time or 13 times, it's rape. We're fighting for that. Our fight is for the world, for all the women who are the victims of rape," said sister Anupama on Vicar of the Sisters of Parish's comment 'If nun was abused multiple times, it was consensual and not rape'.
#11.00 am:Â Accused Jalandhar Ex-Bishop Franco Mulakkal arrives at Crime Branch (CID) in Kochi where he will be interrogated by a 5-member team for the second day on Thursday.
#10.50 am:
Mulakkal leaves for Crime Branch (CID) in Kochi where he will be interrogated by a 5-member team for the second day.
A Kerala nun had accused the clergyman of repeated sexual assault between 2014 and 2016. She had recently urged the Vatican to intervene in the matter and demanded Mulakkal's removal as the head of the Jalandhar dioces. She also questioned the "silence" of the church, accusing it of "closing its eyes to the truth".
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