Kottayam: The bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of a prominent Christian denomination faces arrest as the Kerala police have confirmed in its primary investigation that he had raped a nun belonging to a convent at Kuravilangad in Kottayam district. A doctor who examined the nun has also confirmed that she was raped.

The police are planning to arrest Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Jalandhar on the basis of the available incriminating evidence. The arrest could take place this week itself unless the police come under heavy pressure to avoid it.

The investigating team will hand over its primary report to the district police chief and proceed to Jalandhar for further action.

The nun had complained that the bishop raped her at the convent 13 times. An examination of the visitors' register at the convent confirmed that the bishop had stayed at the convent on all the 13 dates that she had mentioned in her complaint. Other nuns who were at the convent during those days have also confirmed he had stayed there.

The nun had repeated her allegation at the court during a 150-page in-camera testimony. She reportedly repeated the same statement to the police earlier.

The police are treating the doctor's confirmation as solid evidence.

The probe team is searching for the nun's phone, which can also prove to be a key evidence in the case. The bishop has been accused of sending lewd messages to the nun over the phone, but her phone was reportedly lost in Jalandhar. The investigators are also convinced that the bishop's complaint against the nun and her kin is fake.