Protestors cheer ‘arrest’ of rape accused Bishop, police mum

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: POLICE HAVE SOUGHT A LEGAL OPINION AS TO WHETHER MULAKKAL CAN BE ARRESTED

There was jubilation at the dharna site in Kochi, where nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus and officials of various churches have been protesting since the past 10 days against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, after news broke that he had been arrested, though there has been no official statement to the effect.

Mulakkal, who has been grilled by the Kerala police over allegations of rape and unnatural sex levelled by a nun, on Friday reached the Crime Branch office in Thrippunithura for questioning for the third day.

The Vatican had on Thursday divested the priest, who was the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of Missionaries of Jesus despite shedding his administrative role, of his pastoral responsibilities “temporarily”.

That decision was welcomed by the protesting nuns who termed the development as the “first victory” in their fight against the former bishop.

Kottayam superintendent of police Hari Sankar has said the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case has decided to complete the interrogation on Friday. All he said was, “after interrogation, we will decide whether to go forward with his arrest or not. I can’t say if the arrest will be made today.”

The former bishop, who was grilled for more than eight hours on Thursday, presented himself before the investigation team at 10.30 am on Friday, 10 minutes late, for the interrogation amid tight police security.

Police have sought a legal opinion as to whether Mulakkal, whose anticipatory bail plea is pending before the high court, can be arrested.