Court summons to Bishop Franco in rape case

A local court at Pala in Kottayam, Kerala issued summons to former bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal in the nun rape case on Saturday.

Admitting the chargesheet filed by the Kerala police against the bishop, the court issued summons to the bishop to appear on May 10. The bishop might have to appear in person and seek bail from the court as per the usual procedure.

The charge sheet against the bishop was filed on April 9. He was charged under various sections of Indian Penal Code for rape, unnatural sex, illegal detention and criminal intimidation. He allegedly raped a nun of a convent at Kuravilangad in Kottayam district in Kerala several times between 2014 and 2016.

The police arrested Franco on September 21, 2018, while he was serving as the bishop. He had to spent about a month in jail under judicial remand and was later released
on bail. Franco was relieved from the charges of the bishop following the arrest.

A section of nuns who staged public agitations demanding legal action against Franco allegedly faced vindictive action from the church, as they were transferred and even warned of expulsion.