By Matters India Reporter
Kochi, March 30, 2022: A Catholic nun on March 30 filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court against a bishop’s acquittal in a rape case.
Kottayam’s Additional District and Sessions Court Judge G. Gopakumar on January 14 acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar in the historic case of the rape of a nun, saying the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against him.
The survivor nun’s petition alleges defects in the trial court verdict as it could not study properly all evidences presented.
A day earlier, the Kerala government granted the prosecution sanction for filing a separate appeal against the acquittal
Bishop Mulakkal told Matters India that both the government and his accuser have filed appeals in the High Court against his acquittal. “Yes. It is their right. We respect it,” he added.
In her complaint to the police in June 2018, the nun had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Bishop Mulakkal between 2014 and 2016. The Special Investigation Team, which probed the case, arrested the bishop in September 2018 and charged him with wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.
Bishop Mulakkal has denied the charges and said he was a victim of vendetta.
I pray that at least this time truth and justice will prevail!