A Kerala court on Saturday extended by 14 days till October 20 the judicial custody of Roman Catholic bishop Franco Mulakkal, arrested on the charge of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a nun.
The 54-year-old clergyman was produced before the magistrate’s court at Pala in Kottayam district after his judicial custody ended on Saturday.
Sources said his lawyers were planning to approach the Kerala High Court once again, seeking bail.
On Wednesday, the High Court dismissed Mulakkal’s bail plea on Wednesday while accepting the prosecution’s argument that the accused, holding a high position in society, may try to influence the witnesses in the case if he were granted bail.
The police had said the investigation in the case was progressing even after the arrest of the accused.
Mulakkal is currently lodged in a sub-jail in Pala.
Nun’s charge
In her complaint to the Kottayam police in June, the nun alleged that Mulakkal raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and subsequently, sexually exploited her on several occasions.
The nun had 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.
