Church sex scandal: Father James Erthayil surrendered, let off on bail
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Kottayam: Father James Erthayil surrendered at the Pala First Class Judicial Magistrate court on Wednesday in the case of rape charge levelled by a nun against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese.
He was later let off on bail. Erthayil was booked for trying to influence the nun to withdraw the complaint.
In an audio conversation leaked on social media Father Erthayil attached to the Kanjirappally diocese of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), was heard trying to influence Sister Anupama, an associate of the nun who filed the sexual abuse complaint, in favour of the bishop.
He also offered 10 acres of land and a new convent to withdraw the complaint.
Kerala DGP Loknath Behera said that a special team would visit the city in Punjab and other places as part of investigation. The Director General of Police had given permission to the team headed by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash to leave for Jalandhar, New Delhi and other places for further investigation.
The team would however, probe Mulakkal only after gathering more evidences from those connected with the case.
In her complaint to the Kottayam, district police chief, the nun had accused Mulakkal of raping her and having unnatural sex multiple times at a small town near Kottayam between 2014 and 2016.
However, Mulakkal claimed he was innocent.
The nun had also complained to the National Commission for Women (NCW) that the Kerala police was ‘not working’ in the case as the accused is a highly linked person.