Kottayam: After nine months of investigation and lot of public outcry against the government, the Kerala police has finally submitted the charge sheet against Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Pala Magistrate Court.
Franco is charged with five offences including rape, unnatural sex, threatening, misuse of position for sexual harassment, and unlawful detention. The offences if proved could attract life imprisonment for the priest.
The charge sheet mentions statements of 83 witnesses which include Cardinal George Alencherry and secret statements by 10 witnesses.
The case which was investigated by a team led by DySP K. Subash took nine months to complete the investigation and submit the charge sheet. The 2000-page charge sheet has included the harassment of the nuns who supported the victim and the move by the church to transfer them to stifle their protests. It also mentions the conspiracy to undermine the investigations.
On 26 June, 2018, a nun of the Kuravilangadu Nadukunnu Convent complained against the Bishop Franco Mulakkal accusing him of raping her 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
After four months the Bishop was arrested and kept in custody for 25 days. At present the accused is out on bail and currently in Jalandhar. Franco Mulakkal must appear in court since the charge sheet is submitted.
