Kerala Nun Rape Case: Delhites stage protest demanding arrest of accused priest

Citizens of Delhi hit the streets on Friday and protest against Bishop Franco demanding his arrest. The protest took place outside Kerela house, Jantar Mantar at 3 PM. Thousands of Delhiites joined this protest holding placards. 

A nun in Kerala had accused Franco of raping her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016 to which the Bishop rejected the allegations as baseless and concocted moreover he also began a slander campaign against the victim nun.

Nun also alleged that she informed Cardinal George Alancherry, the head of syro Malabar church about the sexual assault to which Alencherry responded by saying nun never mentioned sexual assault. When church didn't take any action, victim nun approached Kerala police. The police then interrogated bishop on August 14 but didn't arrest him, when inquired why bishop wasn't arrested Kerala police said alleged accused had cooperated with the police during questioning and if required police would again question him. 

On September 8, five nuns along with other protesters started protesting against the church for not taking any action against the alleged rape accused. They added that neither police nor state govt initiated any actions against the alleged rape accused. 

While nuns hit streets against the inaction in the case, Kerala MLA PC  George made a derogatory remark against the victim nun by calling her a "Prostitute" to which NCW took cognisance and summoned him on 20th September but MLA PC George didn't turn up at NCW citing busy schedule. NCW also sent a fact-finding it's team to Kerala which observes lackadaisical attitude at the part of agencies following which NCW recommended a central agency probe in the matter. 

READ | Kerala Nun Rape Case: MLA PC George Continues Slander-campaign Against Rape-victim Nun, Accuses Investigative Team Of Framing Bishop Franco Mulakkal

On September 11 victim nun also wrote a letter to the Vatican seeking actions against Bishop Franco and alleged that alleged rape accused would use political and money power to influence the case. 

Now SIT of Kerala police is probing the matter and grilled alleged rape accused for three consecutive days but didn't arrest him. After Bishop got summons from Kerala police he wrote a letter dated September 16 offering to step aside following which his resignation was accepted by pope and he was relieved of his duties temporarily. This announcement made on the day when Bishop was being grilled by the Kerala police's SIT on the second consecutive day.

As per the response from Vatican Pope Francis has appointed retired reverend Agnelo Gracias, Titular Bishop of Molicunza and Auxiluaru Bishop emeritus of Bombay, as the Apostolic administrator of the Jalandhar diocese. 

READ | Kerala Nun Rape Case: Bishop Franco Mulakkal deny All Charges, Interrogation Reaches Day two. LIVE UPDATES Here