New Delhi: Bishop Franco Mulakkal has approached the Supreme Court requesting to review the order that rejected his discharge petition filed in connection with the nun rape case.
He also submitted a plea requesting to hold the hearing of the review petition in open court. Bishop Mulakkal has demanded the apex court to stay the trial of the nun rape case till the review petition is finalized.
The review petition was filed against the August 5 order issued by Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubrahmaniam. Though senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who defends the bishop, had stated that many facts have to be explained, the court refused for a detailed hearing.
Bishop Mulakkal had claimed that the complainant nun had been trying to form a new congregation cooperating with another church since 2013 and she failed in this attempt.
Some complaints were received against her in 2017 and inquiry started. The nun filed the complaint as a result of conspiracy in revenge to this act, Franco alleged in the plea. He further alleged that the nun joined with Syro Malabar Church and acted against the interest of Latin Church.
The case was booked against Bishop Mulakkal under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. He had no authority over the nun as Jalandhar bishop. So, the cases as per sections do not exist, the bishop claimed.
According to the rules of the Supreme Court, review petition is first listed in the chamber. It will be listed in the open court only if the bench orders.
Source: english.mathrubhumi.com on October 2, 2020