Kerala nun abuse case: Bishop questioned

Kerala police team met former nuns of the Jalandhar diocese on Friday and Saturday

AKerala police team yesterday questioned Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Roman Catholic Diocese here in Punjab following allegations of sexually abusing a nun, an official said. No arrest has been made so far.

The Bishop’s interrogation began late on Monday and ended yesterday morning.

There was high drama before questioning as the Bishop avoided meeting the Kerala team which reached Jalandhar, around 155km from Chandigarh, on Friday.

The Kerala police team also questioned Father Antony and Jalandhar Diocese Chief Public Relations Officer Father Peter.

Three journalists from Kerala also alleged manhandling by the Bishop’s private security when they tried to speak to Mulakkal.

The Kerala police team, which was given protection by their Punjab counterpart, arrived at the congregation of Missionaries of Jesus, the headquarters of Christian centres in the region, for investigation.

Earlier, the team met the former nuns of the Jalandhar diocese on Friday and Saturday.

The Punjab Police, fearing law and order problems, provided protection to the Kerala team.

Several followers of the diocese had gathered at its campus in Jalandhar on Friday after hearing about the arrival of the six-member Kerala Police team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.T. Subhash.

A nun had alleged in June that Mulakkal sexually abused her several times at a convent in Kuruvalangadu near Kottayam in Kerala between 2014 to 2016.