An further periods courtroom in Kottayam on Friday acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal. Sensational case of rape of Catholic nun, Mulakkal was the bishop of Jalandhar, however was sacked on administrative fees after the scandal broke out in 2018.
“Daivathinu Stuti (Praise God!)”, Mulakkal informed reporters earlier than leaving the courtroom premises. When the decision was delivered he broke down in courtroom and hugged his legal professionals.
Mulakkal was arrested in September, 2018 in reference to a criticism by a nun who alleged that Mulakkal raped her 13 instances on the mission home of her troupe in Kottayam district over a interval of two years from May 5, 2014. Was. He was the primary Indian Catholic bishop to be arrested in a rape case and was in judicial custody for 25 days after his arrest in September 2018.
“It is an extremely unfortunate decision, it is shocking to us. We expected full punishment. We will appeal. We had strong evidence. All the witnesses in the case were ordinary people,” Investigating Officer S Harishankar, former SP of Kottayam, informed reporters.
Tight safety preparations have been made exterior the Kottayam Additional Sessions Court on Friday morning forward of the pronouncement of the decision within the high-profile case. The case assumes significance as it’s the first time a Catholic bishop was arrested and booked on fees of rape and sexual assault in India.
The trial started in 2020, and though Mulakkal approached the High Court and the Supreme Court to quash the fees in opposition to him, the courts refused to entertain the petition.
Denying the allegations of rape, Bishop claimed that the story was ‘fabricated’ and in retaliation for taking motion in opposition to him in relation to a criticism made by a lady. Mulakkal faces a number of fees, together with unlawful imprisonment, sexual assault by way of abuse of energy, unnatural intercourse, rape and outraging the modesty of a lady. Subhash, DSP of Vakkam, was the investigating officer.
Mulakkal was relieved of official duties in Jalandhar diocese after being charged by the police in a rape case.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
