By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, July 25, 2020: Raped-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar on July 25 approached the Supreme Court to get his case dismissed, claiming his innocence.
The plea filed by Mulakkal claims that he was implicated after enquiring financial dealings of the victim nun. Seeking an urgent hearing, Mulakkal claims that the allegations against him were raised seeking personal revenge, alleging discrepancies in the nun’s statements.
The 56-year-old prelate went to the apex court after the Kerala High Court on July 7 dismissed a petition.
The top court in Kerala had also asked Mulakkal to face trial agreeing with the prosecution that ample evidence exists against the bishop in the case. It also noted that the prelate was trying to delay the court proceedings.
Both the First Information Report as well as in the secret statement provided by the victim have clear evidence of the bishop’s acts, the high court said.
Earlier in March, the Additional District and Sessions Judge in Kottayam, Kerala, had dismissed the bishop’s petition to discharge the case, forcing him to go to the high court.
The case’s trial is to be held in the Kottayam court, but the prelate has been avoiding appearance citing one reason or another.
The Kottayam court on July 13 issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Mulakkal after he failed several times to appear for trial in a rape case. He was on bail since October 15, 2018.
On the same day his bail was canceled, the bishop reported that he had tested positive for Coronavirus.
Mulakkal is accused of raping a nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016 in a convent at Kuravilangad near Kottayam. He not only denies the charges but repeatedly claims of “lack of evidence: and “contradictions in the nun’s statements.”
The Kottayam court has posted the case to August 13 when the chargesheet would be read to the bishop, as the first step in starting the trial.