Published 15:40 IST, September 21st 2018
Kerala Nun Rape Case: Protest against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Delhi, interrogation reaches day three. LIVE UPDATES here
A protest has been called at Jantar Mantar in Delhi seeking the arrest of Bishop in connection with the Kerala Nun rape case. Meanwhile, the questioning of the bishop will continue on Friday and commence from 10:30 am.
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Update at 3:38 PM: Protest against rape accused Bishop Franco at Kerala House, New Delhi
Update at 2:20 PM: Bishop Franco Mulakkal's team moves to file bail plea
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Update at 1:45 PM: Bishop Franco Mulakkal could be arrested today: Sources
Update at 12:05 PM: Yuva Morcha people protesting near the interrogation center demanding the arrest of the Bishop
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After rape-accused Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal was grilled for hours during his interrogation at crime branch office in Kochi on Thursday, a protest has been called at Jantar Mantar in Delhi seeking the arrest of Bishop in connection with the Kerala Nun rape case.
Meanwhile, the questioning of the bishop will continue on Friday and commence from 10:30 am. The statements given by the Bishop during the course of the interrogation will be fact-checked. In his third day of questioning, a different team will carry out the verification process. Additional three teams have been formed to carry out the probe.
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As per sources, the bishop denied all the charges against him and remained elusive and vague during the course of interrogation on the first day of interrogation. The Police demanded brief answers from the bishop for every question, however, he stated that he could not recollect his exact whereabouts.
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Earlier on Thursday, Republic TV has accessed a startling tape that reveals the conversation between Assistant Sub Inspector Amrik Singh of Baradari police station, Jalandhar and the victim nun. The recording clarifies how Sub Inspector Amrik Singh attempts to intimidate the nun by saying that father Peter, who is a close aide of Bishop, has filed a complaint against her.
A day before the explosive tape was accessed, Republic TV had learnt that the Kottayam police recorded the statement of senior priest Father James Aerthayil attached to the Kanjirappally diocese of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) whose conversation with Sister Anupama had stirred up a hornet's nest. Fr James has reportedly confessed to the investigation officer (IO) that he was trying to broker a deal between the companion sisters (who are also witnesses in the case), the complainant nun and the Jalandhar Diocese to drop charges against Bishop Franco Mulakkal. In his statement to Kottayam police, Fr James has claimed that a certain Shobi George, known to be close to the Jalandhar Diocese, had approached him to mediate a deal to ensure that the witnesses are silenced and the complainant herself does not pursue the case legally any further.
Earlier on Tuesday, police sources revealed the details of August questioning of the accused Bishop. The Police sources have told Republic TV that over 15 contradictions were made by Bishop Franco in his earlier statement to police. The main and glaring of them are:
- Bishop Franco has told police that on 5th may, 2014, the first day that the complainant alleged that rape took place, he was not in Kuruvilangad mission home, where the crime took place but was instead in the neighbouring district of Idukki
- Statement of mother superior of the Idukki mission home and the statement of Bishop Franco's personal driver contradict this statement
- Furthermore, the visitor's register at Kuruvilangad home, as well as 2 other nuns who were present there, confirm his presence there to the police
- The complainant has alleged that on 13 instances she was sexually assaulted by Bishop Franco but in his interrogation, Franco has admitted to having visited the Kuruvilgad home just 9 times, again a claim contradicted by the visitor's register
Meanwhile, the Nuns have claimed that they will continue their hunger strike till the Bishop is arrested as the Kerala High Court adjourned the bail plea of Bishop to 25th September.
07:27 IST, September 21st 2018