By Matters India Reporter
Kottayam, Aug 7, 2020: The District and Session Court in Kottayam, Kerala, on August 7 restored the bail of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar.
The court on July 13 canceled the bail and ordered the prelate’s arrest after he avoided appearances despite several summonses.
The court stayed the arrest until August 7 after the bishop produced a certificate on July 13 showing he was Covid-positive.
Bishop Mulakkal, accused in a rape case, finally appeared in the trial court earlier in the day to plead for the restoration of his bail.
Public prosecutor Jithesh J Babu told media persons that the court restored the bail to Bishop Mulakkal with certain conditions.
The prosecution did not oppose the bail after Mulakkal agreed to be present for the trail.
Bishop Mulakkal, who continues to claim his innocence, came to the court accompanied by his lawyers
The court obliged his request for bail restoration after two guarantors deposited 200,000 rupees each as sureties and the bishop deposited an equal amount as self-bond.
The court has directed the bishop not to leave Kerala until August 13, the date for the next hearing. The trial court will then formally start the process for framing charges against the 56-year-old bishop.
Bishop Mulakkal was on bail since October 15, 2018, granted by the Kerala High Court.
He became the first Indian Catholic bishop to be arrested in a sexual abuse case. He spent 24 days in a jail Kerala from September 21.
According to the prosecution, the bishop had allegedly raped a nun 13 times in a convent in Kerala between 2014 and 2016.