<p class="rtejustify">The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a bail application by Franco Mulakkal, the rape accused bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The court said that the prima facie evidence validated allegations against the 54-year-old clergyman.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Hearing the bail plea, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V accepted the prosecution’s argument that granting Franco bail could adversely impact the ongoing police investigation in its crucial phase.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Franco was, on September 24, remanded by the Pala Judicial First Class Magistrate to judicial custody till October 6.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">He is lodged in the sub-jail in Pala, in Kottayam district, since his arrest on September 21.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Franco is accused of having raped a Kottayam-based Missionaries of Jesus (MJ) nun multiple times between May, 2014 and September, 2016 during his visits to Kerala.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">He is charged with rape, unnatural sex, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The Crime Branch is investigating a case against Fr James Erthayil for reportedly trying to influence witnesses in the case.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The bishop who was temporarily removed from his pastoral responsibilities before his arrest has denied the “concocted” allegation.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">He has maintained that he is being targeted for initiating disciplinary action against the complainant.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Franco’s supporters have questioned the survivor’s motives and pointed out that the nun, after the reported rape, had continued to associate with the bishop in public events.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The case has rocked the Catholic Church in Kerala— a 14-day protest against Franco led by five MJ nuns in Kochi had garnered massive support from the public and some of the priests and sisters.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The bishop’s arrest was recorded 86 days after the nun approached the police with her petition.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The official bodies of the Church have disowned the nuns’ agitation.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The MJ congregation has repeatedly backed Franco and reported a conspiracy against him.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, while expressing regret over the bishop’s arrest, criticised the “roadside protest” which it claimed gave an opportunity for the “enemies” to launch a campaign against the Church.</p>
<p class="rtejustify">The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a bail application by Franco Mulakkal, the rape accused bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The court said that the prima facie evidence validated allegations against the 54-year-old clergyman.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Hearing the bail plea, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V accepted the prosecution’s argument that granting Franco bail could adversely impact the ongoing police investigation in its crucial phase.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Franco was, on September 24, remanded by the Pala Judicial First Class Magistrate to judicial custody till October 6.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">He is lodged in the sub-jail in Pala, in Kottayam district, since his arrest on September 21.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Franco is accused of having raped a Kottayam-based Missionaries of Jesus (MJ) nun multiple times between May, 2014 and September, 2016 during his visits to Kerala.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">He is charged with rape, unnatural sex, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The Crime Branch is investigating a case against Fr James Erthayil for reportedly trying to influence witnesses in the case.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The bishop who was temporarily removed from his pastoral responsibilities before his arrest has denied the “concocted” allegation.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">He has maintained that he is being targeted for initiating disciplinary action against the complainant.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">Franco’s supporters have questioned the survivor’s motives and pointed out that the nun, after the reported rape, had continued to associate with the bishop in public events.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The case has rocked the Catholic Church in Kerala— a 14-day protest against Franco led by five MJ nuns in Kochi had garnered massive support from the public and some of the priests and sisters.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The bishop’s arrest was recorded 86 days after the nun approached the police with her petition.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The official bodies of the Church have disowned the nuns’ agitation.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The MJ congregation has repeatedly backed Franco and reported a conspiracy against him.</p>.<p class="rtejustify">The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, while expressing regret over the bishop’s arrest, criticised the “roadside protest” which it claimed gave an opportunity for the “enemies” to launch a campaign against the Church.</p>