Kottayam: Four nuns who protested against Bishop Franco Mulakkal over allegations of sexual misconduct have been transferred by the Missionaries of Jesus.
In March 2018, a transfer order was first issued but the protesting nuns defied the directive.
The fresh order comes with a warning that action will be taken against them if they do not comply with the March order.
Sister Anupama, who has been transferred to Punjab, said that the transfer order was aimed at punishing the nuns for speaking out against Bishop Franco.
However, the victim nun, who complained that the Bishop sexually assaulted her, has not been transferred.
The four protesting nuns have been transferred to four different locations.
In her complaint to the Kottayam Police in June, the victim nun had alleged that Bishop Mulakkal raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and later abused her on several occasions.
The nun said she had to approach the police as the Church authorities did not act on her repeated complaints against the clergyman.
However, Mulakkal has denied the charges as "baseless and concocted," insisting the nun levelled those as the Catholic order had rejected her demand for favours.
Mulakkal, who is out on bail, was directed by the court to surrender his passport and not to enter Kerala state except for appearing before the probe officer.
