Jalandhar Bishop to be quizzed soon

Kottayam: The Kerala Police probing the case pertaining to the alleged rape of a senior nun by Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar Latin Catholic Diocese is expected to question the accused soon after summoning him.

The investigation team has confirmed that Franco Mulakkal was in Kerala during the days mentioned in the nun's complaint. Also, the functions mentioned in the complaint were also confirmed to have taken place. The facts produced by the complainant were verified after collection of statements and inspecting the places where the programmes were said to have been held.

It is in this background, the police are preparing to record the bishop's statement. The action will be initiated only after seeking the instruction from high level officials. The police got a copy of the secret statement given by the complainant before the magistrate. There also, the complainant reiterated that she was abused 13 times. Vaikom DySP K. Subhash told that the statement is being verified. The nun's statement will be recorded again if any discrepancies are found between the statements given to the police and magistrate. The Bishop's statement will be recorded only after clarifying the discrepancies.

The investigation team has recorded the statement of the lady doctor of Kottayam Medical College, who had conducted a medical examination on the complainant. The medical examination has also confirmed that the nun was abused. The lady doctor's statement was also in line with the report.

Meanwhile, the nun has informed the investigation team that she lost the mobile phone which was expected to become an important piece of evidence in the case. The nun informed that the messages were sent to her phone which she used during her stint at Jalandhar. As she bought a new phone, the old one was kept at Jalandhar convent.

The nun told the police that she was informed that the phone is not there now. The copies of complaints filed with the Vatican's representative in India, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and Palai Bishop Mar George Kallarangatt were also handed over to the police.

The police are also thinking of taking a statement of the Cardinal and Palai Bishop.

Meanwhile, efforts for a settlement are also ongoing. In a reconciliation meeting called for by the bishop, before the nun approached the police with the complaint, she had demanded transfer to Bihar. Mother Superior informed that the demand may be approved. The pressure to withdraw the complaint was attempted through the priests related to the nun. However, the priests have not succumbed to the pressure. They have conveyed that they will not withdraw the complaint, until there is an action in the complaint filed with the Vatican representative.