An appeal challenging the acquittal of the Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal, in the nun rape case was presented before the Kerala High Court on Tuesday. Division bench comprising Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice C. Jayachandran issued a notice has also been to Mulakkal in the case.
The Bishop was accused of raping a nun from the Missionaries of Jesus Convent in Kuravilangad several times during his visits to the convent between the years 2014 and 2016.
The Additional District and Sessions Court had acquitted Bishop Mulakkal in the case in January as the survivors testimony could not be relied on.
The prosecution, stated that the testimony produced by the survivor, was a documentary evidence proving that the nun was subjected to rape by the accused, who wielded power and control over the St. Francis Mission Home, on different dates from 6/5/14 to 23/9/16.
The evidence also proves that the presence of the accused on the said days has been totally overlooked by the judge while making acquittal.
The filed appeal runs through the entire episodic events, as to how the power and position were misused to abuse the rape survivor, making her weak
The prosecution stated that the nun was raped 13 times between 5/5/14 and 23/9/16 in the guest house where the Bishop had stayed. As her vow of chastity was butchered time and again.
The nun gatherered some courage before finally opposing the Bishop, who had started to use different retaliatory methods like filing multiple false cases against her in several places, including Punjab.
No the state has filed an appeal in this regard where they have filed a complaint against wrong judgement.Now the Senior Advocate, S. Sreekumar will be representing the nun in the appeal before the High Court.
Also Read: