Rape accused Bishop Franco tests Covid positive


Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 14 (IANS): A day after a court in Kerala's Kottayam issued a non-bailable warrant against Jalandhar's former Catholic bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of sexually assaulting a nun between 2014 and 2016, for failing to appear before it, it was told that he has tested Covid positive on Tuesday.

The case at the court was posted on July 1, but Mulakkal, presently based in Jalandhar, failed to appear. The explanation given was his lawyer there tested positive, and since Mulakkal had visited the lawyer, he was asked to go for 14 days isolation.

It was on Tuesday that Mulakkal turned positive.

In March, a court had dismissed the discharge petition filed by Mulakkal in the sexual assault case.

The bishop's alleged ploy was to delay the trial and now with the lower court dismissing his petition, it remains to be seen if he will approach a higher court.

Mulakkal, arrested on September 21, 2018 on rape charges, got bail on October 16, 2018. The Kerala Police has filed a 1,400-page charge sheet against him.

The charge sheet names 83 witnesses, including Cardinal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Mar George Alencherry, three bishops, 11 priests and many nuns.

After the case came to light, Mulakkal was removed as head of the Jalandhar diocese.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Jul 15 2020

    Should one now believe everything what they say?I am certainly not.when you have a good lawyer ,can white becomes black and white into black.Sure a trick.why he didnt inform before.?Now it is better to bring here and do a test here,to be sure and in quarantine.Let the Bishop be sincere as a christ and tell the truth and let the case close.whether he is innocent or not,and corona positive.let not dance everyone behind them.Now it is time to end the long standing case.disgusting.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Jul 14 2020

    We have trust in our Almighty ...

    DisAgree [19] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Maria Sequiera, Boliyar / Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 14 2020

    Yes, God is great.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • John V., Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 15 2020

    God does not protect rapists.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • k b r, Mangala Uru

    Tue, Jul 14 2020

    false positive to buy more time and to postpone facing justice...?

    DisAgree [8] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • anthony, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 14 2020

    This was a clear case of Trial by the media.

    The charge sheet names 83 witnesses, including Cardinal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Mar George Alencherry, three bishops, 11 priests and many nuns. Let the Courts decide. The media should stop shadow boxing and follow the establised norms of Judiprudence that all accused are innocent until proved guilty by a court of Law.

    DisAgree [30] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Rape accused Bishop Franco tests Covid positive



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