‘CARDINAL TOLD NUN NOT TO FILE RAPE PLAINT AGAINST BISHOP’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: TV channels in Kerala on Thursday aired a purported conversation in which Syro-malabar Church head Cardinal Mar George Alencherry is heard dissuading the nun, who has accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of rape, from filing a police complaint.

The conversation on a fourminute audio tape surfaced a day after Alencherry told investigators that he had not received any sexual assault complaint from the nun. Hindustan Times could not independently ascertain the authenticity of the audio-taped conversation.

But the 43-year-old nun is heard complaining against Mulackkal in the purported conversation that took place in December, six months before she registered a police complaint, accusing Mulakkal of raping her 13 times between 2014 and 2106.

Alencherry is heard saying on the purported tape that he will say he was unaware of any complaint if the police approached him. He is heard advising the nun to settle everything on her own and not to drag others into it.

Syro-malabar Church spokesman Father Jimmy Poochakkat admitted the two spoke in December, but insisted the audio taped conversation had been edited to defame the church.

“It seems the conversation is not complete. It is being used to show the church in a bad light.”

Alencherry reiterated he had never received any sexual abuse complaint from the nun when Vaikkoam deputy superintendent of police K Subhash-led police team recorded his statement.

“The cardinal had informed us that the nun had told him about some issues at her convent. However, he did not receive any complaint of sexual assault,” said Subhash.