Kerala Nun Rape Case: Accused Bishop Franco arrested

New Delhi: Roman Catholic priest Franco Mulakkal has been arrested today in connection with the Kerala Nun rape allegations after he was interrogated for three days straight by the State Police.

His arrests come just a day after the Vatican relived him of his duties. He was arrested after 5 pm and he will be produced before the magistrate at his residence according to reports in Indian Express.

According to a source, Bishop was asked to “step aside temporarily” from the administrative job of the diocese.

“Investigation is going in the right direction. The government is with the victim. The government is with the nuns staging the protest. Certainly, the government will take all necessary steps to identify the culprits and bring the guilty to book,” senior Kerala Minister E P Jayarajan had told PTI.

The Kerala High Court has agreed to hear Mulakkal’s anticipatory bail plea on September 25 while it asked the state government to file an affidavit.

Mulakkal refuting the allegations made by the nun against him, earlier said that it is a “conspiracy” hatched against him by a group of people who are against the church.

He also accused the nun of lying as he had ordered action against her in the past.
“The nun is lying, made up the case against me because I had ordered action against her. Police have no evidence against me that’s why they have not arrested me,” said Mulakkal.