A special investigation team of the Kerala Police filed a charge sheet against the Bishop Franko Mulkkal on Tuesday in the local magistrate's court. Franco Mulkkal is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a nun. The Bishop was arrested 7 months ago due to these allegations.
A nun
had accused former Bishop Mulkkal of Jalandhar Diosys for raping repeatedly between 2014 and 2016. The priest reportedly raped Nun when he was Bishop of Diosys.
Official sources say that the bishop has been charged under different sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC). In the police report, Nun had complained in June that Mulkkal had raped him in a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014. After this incident, he was sexually abused several times.
Nun alleges that he had to go to the police because the Church officials did not take any action against the priest on his complaints. Police have welcomed 5 protesters protesting against this action.
Nuns have said that they are satisfied with the investigation. He expressed the hope that the accused Bishop will get maximum punishment in the matter.
According to sources, the charge sheet contains statements of 83 witnesses, including top priests of the Catholic Church. Mulkkal was arrested in September. After getting bail from the Kerala High Court, he was released on October 16.
