Kottayam: Jalandhar Police Commissioner has informed the police officers in Kerala that the Bishop Franco Mulakkal will present himself for questioning in a case registered against him for sexual abuse of a nun. It is also learnt that the bishop may try for anticipatory bail. However, bishop's lawyer told media that so far no decision has been made on the bishop's arrival and anticipatory bail.
Kottayam district police chief Harishankar told 'Madhyamam' that the bishop is expected to arrive and the place of interrogation is not yet confirmed. He also said that there will be no more review meetings.
Meanwhile, the police team investigating the case is busy with clearing the contradictions in the statements given by the complainant. The contradictions are in the dates mentioned by the nun. It is assumed that the contradictions happened as it was recollected from memory.
The investigation team has confirmed that the nun had reached Sehion retreat center at Attapady. The nun had said that advice of a priest in the retreat center gave her strength to file complaint against the bishop. She had also stated she revealed about the abuse when she made her confession in September 2016. The police recovered the records from the retreat centre which prove the nun's claims.
The retreat center director also has said that the nun had come there for retreat. However, it is not known which priest persuaded the nun to file the complaint. The police has collected the name and details of 12 priests who were there at the time. The police team has also taken statements from six of them. Efforts are on to identify the other six.
The police has so far collected more than hundred witness statements and registers which constitute more than forty records. The investigation team are hopeful that the bishop can be arrested on the basis of the evidence collected so far. They also expect that a bona fide charge sheet can be prepared based on the collected evidence. In light of this situation, it is learnt that the bishop will be arrested soon after the interrogation. Kottayam district police chief has apprised Kottayam Range IG about the details of investigation.
The investigation team has got satisfying explanation regarding her participation in a programme along with the accused on the very next day of the first sexual abuse.