Thiruvananthapuram: Days after a special team probing the Kerala Church Rape Case found evidence against Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of repeatedly raping a nun over years in a church in Kottayam. He said that he wants a speedy investigation in the case and that the truth should come out.
According to a report by the Indian Express, Franco Mulakkal told the national daily, “It is utmost important for me that truth comes out.” He is the first Bishop in the region to face such serious charges.
In an interview to a news channel, he mentioned the day when the Kerala police had visited the Bishop’s house in Jalandhar he was not available as he had gone out on his routine work. He said, “I was called by Father Peter, Chief Public Relations Officer, who told me that the team wanted to question me and then I came back. I was going to Beas town in Amritsar district that day.”
Mulakkal further added, that later he was questioned for nine hours and claimed that he had replied to all the questions put up by the investigation team, it also included the supporting documents. He also mentioned that he did not apply for any anticipatory bail as he have full faith in investigation agency and on the legal system of the country.
Father Mulakkal was also accused of bribing the nuns who were supporting the victim. He allegedly offered them a land in Kerala and threatened them for supporting the victim. The 11-minute audio conversation which confirmed allegations of the bribe was between Father James Erthayil of the Kanhirappally diocese and Sister Anupama from the ‘Missionaries of Jesus’ in Kottayam, Kerala.