Nun rape case: Kerala cops search convent in Jalandhar

Jalandhar bishop Dr Franco Mulakkal.

New Delhi: The Kerala police team probing a sexual abuse complaint against Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, on Saturday, gathered evidence at the convent were the nun was residing at Jalandhar.

The team, headed by deputy superintendent of police (DySP) K Subhash, was assisted by a Punjab police unit. Sources said they would head to the bishop's house for further investigation. The team was turned away the previous time they tried to meet the bishop, citing that they didn't have permission.

In her complaint to the Kottayam district police chief, the nun had accused Mulakkal, a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar of having sexually exploited her at a small town near Kottayam between 2014 and 2016.

However, Mulakkal had claimed that he was innocent and said the truth would come out in the investigation. Clergymen supporting Mulakkal had said that the nun had filed the complaint against him after a priest, also an official of the Jalandhar diocese, filed one against her relatives for allegedly threatening the bishop.

In his complaint, the priest alleged that the nun's relatives threatened to kill Mulakkal after he ordered a probe against her on the basis of the complaint received by the mother superior of her congregation.

The police said the case against the bishop had a credible basis and that they had obtained evidence in this regard. The nun had also complained to the National Commission for Women that the Kerala police was 'not working' on the case as the accused was a 'highly-linked' person. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said the commission would extend all possible help to the nun in the case.

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