Kerala Nun rape case: Rape-accused Bishop Mulakkal likely to file anticipatory bail plea in Kerala High Court. LIVE UPDATES here

Update at 2:22 pm: Kerala High Court adjourns the bail plea matter to 25th September 

Update at 10:43 AM: Anticipatory bail application filed. It will be moved in the Kerala High Court at 1.45 PM

Rape-accused Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal is likely to file an anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday in the Kerala High Court, a day before his appearance before the Kerala Police in the investigation into the Nun rape case.

The counsel of Bishop Mulakkal has confirmed to Republic TV that the plea will be filed between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday. In the anticipatory bail plea, the Bishop is likely to state that he is ready to inform that he is ready to cooperate with the probe but that the investigating team must refrain from arresting him.

Bishop Mulakkal's counsel is also likely to file supporting documents over his claim that there is no rape involved in this case.

On Monday, the Bishop had written to the Vatican seeking Pope Francis' permission to step aside from his duties, which he had done earlier in any case in another letter.

In the letter to the Vatican, Bishop Mulakkal wrote, among other things:

• 'The allegations against the Bishop are sad and painful to the faithful'
• 'Bishop Mulakkal believes in the triumph of truth'
• 'The Bishop has written to the Pope and expressed his desire to temporarily resign from administration and has sought permission for the same'
• 'There have been indications from the High Court with regard to his innocence in the allegations that have been levelled against him'
• 'Because he has to travel very often to Kerala, take part in investigations and matters related to the case, he has expressed his desire to temporarily resign from the post'
• 'This letter has been handed over to the Vatican representative. Hoping for permission from the Vatican at the earliest'.

On September 11, the victim, against whom there has been a slander campaign in which church group Missionaries of Jesus has also been pulled up for posting her photo and revealing her identity, had also written to the Vatican seeking justice. In her seven-page letter, she spoke about the "sexual exploitation that she suffered from Bishop Franco from 2014 to 2016". The complainant's sister has also embarked on a hunger strike till the Bishop is arrested.

The Kerala police has thus far submitted two affidavits in the case. In the first affidavit, which was filed on August 13, the investigation officer had concluded based on his probe that the victim nun had been raped repeatedly. 

"During the investigation conducted so far and available evidence collected, it is revealed that the accused bishop committed unnatural offence and commitment rape repeatedly on different dates from 05/05/2018 to 23/09/2016 (name not to be revealed) against the will and consent of her by abusing the dominance over her as bishop of Jalandhar after confining her in the guest room of St Francis mission home'"