Bishop's anticipatory bail plea no hurdle for arrest, say cops

Bishop's anticipatory bail plea no hurdle for arrest, say cops

Bishop's anticipatory bail plea no hurdle for arrest, say cops

Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of allegedly raping a nun 13 times at a convent in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016, will be questioned by the Kerala Police in Kochi on Wednesday. In a late night development, it was decided that the Jalandhar bishop will be questioned at a place in Thripunithura near Kochi, and not in Kottayam. 

The investigating officers will soon arrive at the probe centre. The questioning will begin at 10 am. "The bishop has been instructed to appear for questioning on Wednesday at 10 am. He has not sought any police security," the SP said after meeting Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare.

This is the second time the bishop is being grilled. A team, headed by Vaikom deputy superintendent of police K. Subhash, had grilled the clergyman for 9 hours at the Bishop House in Jalandhar on August 15.

The police have found that many of the bishop's statements are contradicting with that of the victim nun and other witnesses. All such contradictions will be clarified on Wednesday, the police said. The investigating team has prepared over 100 questions and follow-ups to iron out all the contradictions.

In an apparent hint that Bishop Franco Mulakkal might be taken into custody following the questioning on Wednesday, the police said the clergyman moving the high court for anticipatory bail won't be a hurdle for cops to arrest him. “The arrest will depend on the outcome of the questioning and evidences," Kottayam S.P. Harisankar told the press.

The Kerala High Court had postponed hearing on an anticipatory bail plea by the bishop to September 25.

Subhash will lead the first phase of interrogation. The cops will simultaneously investigate all statements given during the grilling.

Mulakkal will not be allowed to return to Jalandhar until the completion of questioning. Security at the interrogation centres and St Francis Mission Home at Kuravilangad in Kottayam has also been beefed up.

A team of the bishop's assistants from Jalandhar diocese has also reached Kottayam on Tuesday and met legal experts.

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