The Kerala High Court on Wednesday turned down a bail plea of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been arrested on the charge of raping a nun.
In his petition, he said the allegations levelled by the nun were “wholly concocted and cooked up only to wreak vengeance” for the action taken against her. He argued that the nun was inimical towards him since she was removed from the post of Mother Superior and Kerala in charge on a complaint from her cousin and another nun. His counsel also claimed further detention was not needed since he was interrogated for hours before and after his arrest.
He was arrested on September 21.
The case was registered by the Kuravilangad police in Kottayam district on a complaint by the nun, who belonged to the Missionaries of Jesus under the Jalandhar diocese. She had alleged that she was raped by the bishop from May 5, 2014 to May 6, 2016 on 14 occasions in a room attached to the St. Francis Mission Home, Kuruvilangad.
Opposing the bail plea, the Director General of Prosecution submitted that statements of the witnesses, including five nuns, would have to be recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC.
Besides, investigation had to be carried out in Jalandhar to ascertain the statement of the accused and collect some more evidence. In fact, four other cases were registered in various police stations for trying to influence the witnesses in the case at the instance of the accused bishop.The investigation was at a crucial stage.Therefore, if he was granted bail at this stage, it would impede collection of further evidence, DGP had argued.
