After 86 days of inquiry, Bishop Mulakkal arrested

Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, September 21

After 86 days of investigation and 81 witness statements, Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar Diocese was finally arrested on Friday, police said. 

Read: From spokesperson to Bishop, Franco Mulakkal had meteoric rise

"On basis of the evidence collected so far and interrogation that continued for three days, we arrested Bishop Frankkol at 8 pm today. Subsequent investigation will continue. He'll be produced before a magistrate court tomorrow morning," Kottayam district police chief Hari Sankar said in a statement on Friday evening.

Mulakkal’s arrest came after three days of questioning at Tripunithura’s crime branch office in connection with a nun’s allegation that he had repeatedly raped her for two years.

Kottayam Police also took the nun’s fresh statement on Friday.

The victim nun, who had served as Mother General with Jesus of Missionaries at Jalandhar but has been in Kerala for five years now, has accused the clergyman of having raped her as many as 13 times at Kuravilangad convent in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016. She wrote to The Vatican last week questioning the Church’s continued silence, saying it was leading to her “humiliation and character assassination”.

Several nuns have been holding protests outside Kerala High Court to demand Mulakkal’s arrest.

In a development that drew severe criticism, the Missionaries of Jesus released a photo last week that showed the victim nun sitting with Mulakkal.

As pressure to have him arrested mounted, Mulakkal asked Pope Francis to relieve him of his official duties. His request finally came through on Thursday, when Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese Bombay Agnelo Rufino Gracias was made the new administrator of the Jalandhar Diocese.

Before appearing in Kerala, Bishop had also filed an anticipatory bail application in the high court that was put off until September 25. His Friday arrest has made the application infructuous.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India issues statement after his arrest

“We have learnt from the media about the developments in the Bishop Franco Mullakal’s case. It is a sad moment for all of us. We pray for all involved: Bishop Franco, the nun concerned, the diocese of Jalandhar and the Congregation of the Missionaries of Jesus.

“We have full confidence in the judicial system of our country. As said before we expect the law to take its course and for the truth to emerge. At this moment our prayer is for healing,”  Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India said in a statement after his arrest. 

TIMELINE

June 25: On behalf of Bishop, Jalandhar Diocese PRO Father Peter lodges a complaint with Kerala Police accusing the nun and her family of threatening to kill the bishop.

June 28: Nun lodges a complaint of rape against Mulakkal.

August 10-13: Kerala Police reach Jalandhar, visit Missionaries of Jesus, Pastoral Centre, meets cousin of complainant in Amritsar.

August 14-15: Police interrogates the bishop for nine hours at the Bishop House.

September 8: Nuns hold protests in Kerala.

September 16: Bishop writes to Pope Francis asking to be relieved of his pastoral duties.

September 18: Bishop files anticipatory bail at Kerala High Court, gets put off to Sep 25.

September 19: Bishop interrogated for seven hours at high-tech Crime Branch office at Tripunithura.

September 20: Interrogation continues on day-2. Bishop relieved of his pastoral duties by Vatican. New administrator appointed.

September 21: Bishop appears before police again, arrested.