Kottayam: The recent acquittal of former Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal by the District Court in the nun rape case is likely to be challenged in a higher court. The Kerala Police has received a favourable legal advice on appealing against the controversial verdict.
Special Public Prosecutor Jithesh J Babu handed over the legal advice to Kottayam district police chief D Shilpa on Saturday.
The application for appeal will be forwarded to the government through the District Collector. The Advocate General will give final legal advice to the state government on the matter.
An appeal against a lower court verdict should be made within 60 days.
Mulakkal, 57, was accused of raping the nun multiple times during his visit to a convent in this district between 2014 and 2016 when he was the Bishop of the Jalandhar Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. The complainant is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, a diocesan congregation under the Jalandhar Diocese.
Acquitting the Bishop, the judge of the Additional District and Sessions Court. in the order, said the victim's claim that she was raped on 13 occasions under duress cannot be relied on the basis of her solitary testimony.
The acquittal verdict was pronounced over a week ago.
