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Updated September 20th, 2018 at 20:21 IST

Kerala Nun Rape Case: Bishop Franco Mulakkal deny all charges, interrogation reaches day two. LIVE UPDATES here

After rape-accused Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal was grilled for hours during his interrogation at crime branch office in Kochi on Wednesday, the questioning of the bishop will continue on Thursday and commence from 11 am.

Reported by: Daamini Sharma
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Update at 7:47 PM: A protest has been called for at Jantar Mantar in Delhi seeking the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the Kerala Nun rape case.

Update at 2:11 PM: Commissioner of Police Jalandhar Parveen Sinha has told Republic TV that he has marked an inquiry and has asked the Station House officer to give him a fact-finding report

Update at 12:06 PM: Counsel of rape survivor nun to use the #BishopThreatTape in a petition in the Kerala High Court


After rape-accused Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal was grilled for hours during his interrogation at crime branch office in Kochi on Wednesday, the questioning of the bishop will continue on Thursday and commence from 11 am. However, there is no legal bar on his arrest. As per sources, the bishop denied all the charges against him and remained elusive and vague during the course of interrogation on the first day of interrogation. The Police demanded brief answers from the bishop for every question, however, he stated that he could not recollect his exact whereabouts. 

Read: EXPLOSIVE: Did Rape-accused Bishop Unleash Jalandhar Cops On Nun? Here's What The Punjab Police Said To The Rape-survivor In A Phone Call

Earlier on Wednesday, Republic TV has learnt that the Kottayam police has recorded the statement of senior priest Father James Aerthayil attached to the Kanjirappally diocese of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) whose conversation with Sister Anupama had stirred up a hornet's nest. Fr James has reportedly confessed to the investigation officer (IO) that he was trying to broker a deal between the companion sisters (who are also witnesses in the case), the complainant nun and the Jalandhar Diocese to drop charges against Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

Read: Kerala Nun Rape Case: Bishop Franco Mulakkal To Appear Before Kerala Police For Interrogation

In his statement to Kottayam police, Fr James has claimed that a certain Shobi George, known to be close to the Jalandhar Diocese, had approached him to mediate a deal to ensure that the witnesses are silenced and the complainant herself does not pursue the case legally any further.

Read: Exclusive | Kerala Nun Rape Case: Fr James Aerthayil Confesses To Mediating On Behalf Of Jalandhar Diocese

Earlier on Tuesday, police sources revealed the details of August questioning of the accused Bishop. The Police sources have told Republic TV that over 15 contradictions were made by Bishop Franco in his earlier statement to police. The main and glaring of them are:

  • Bishop Franco has told police that on 5th may, 2014, the first day that the complainant alleged that rape took place, he was not in Kuruvilangad mission home, where the crime took place but was instead in the neighbouring district of Idukki
  • Statement of mother superior of the Idukki mission home and the statement of Bishop Franco's personal driver contradict this statement
  • Furthermore, the visitor's register at Kuruvilangad home, as well as 2 other nuns who were present there, confirm his presence there to the police
  • The complainant has alleged that on 13 instances she was sexually assaulted by Bishop Franco but in his interrogation, Franco has admitted to having visited the Kuruvilgad home just 9 times, again a claim contradicted by the visitor's register

Meanwhile, the Nuns have claimed that they will continue their hunger strike till the Bishop is arrested as the Kerala High Court adjourned the bail plea of Bishop to 25th September.

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Published September 20th, 2018 at 20:21 IST

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