The Kerala police on Wednesday interrogated Franco Mulakkal, Catholic bishop of the Syrian Malabar Church, in the nun rape case.
The bishop, who was heading the diocese in Jalandhar, arrived in Kochi on Tuesday evening and left for Thrissur for the night. Around 11 a.m on Wednesday, he reached the Crime Branch office at Tripunithura in a car along with his counsel and another priest.
The interrogation was conducted by a team of police officers, including IG Vijay Sakhare, Kottayam Superintendent of Police Hari Sanker and Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash, the investigating officer in the case.
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Mr. Sakhare reviewed the preparedness of the team and the progress of investigation into the case early on Wednesday.
The police decided to hold the interrogation at Tripunithura as it has a hi-tech interrogation room. Considering the sensitive nature of the case, alternative arrangements have also been made at Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Kottayam for continuing the interrogation just in case some untoward development hampers the ongoing questioning at Tripunithura.
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Nuns' sit-in demanding justice enters 12th day
Meanwhile, at the other end of Kochi, at Vanchi Square in the High Court junction, a sit-in by five nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus demanding the immediate arrest of bishop Franco entered its 12th day.
While the bishop has claimed innocence, and sought anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, the hearing on the plea was adjourned to September 25.