Kottayam: The Additional Sessions Court here will pronounce verdict in the nun rape case involving the former Bishop of Jalandhar Diocese Franco Mulakkal on January 14, Friday.
The case against the then Bishop was registered in early 2018 by the Kottayam police.
In her complaint to the police in June 2018, the nun belonging to a congregation under Jalandhar diocese had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by the bishop during the period between 2014 and 2016.
Franco has been charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 377 (Unnatural Sex), 376 (c)(a) Sexual intercourse by person in authority, 376(2)(k) (indulging in sexual intercourse by exhorting authority), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
The Supreme Court had earlier directed Franco to face trial as it dismissed his plea seeking discharge in the case lodged against him by her, saying there was no merit in his petition.
Franco, in his plea had challenged the July 7 Kerala High Court order, dismissing his discharge plea. The High Court had asked him to stand for trial.
The senior priest of the Roman Catholic Church had filed the revision petition following the dismissal of his discharge plea by a trial court in March 2020.
