INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Bishop Franco Mulakkal has been accused in a sexual assault case
been brought to the notice of the Vatican
The church representative from India is in the Vatican and is likely to discuss the issue, news agency ANI reported.Bishop Franco Mulakkal
said in a letter, "I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and prayers for me at this time continued problems affecting
As you have probably come to know from the media the investigation into the allegations raised against me there are several contradictions
in the evidences collected against me as per the report of the police
It is reported I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala.""I leave everything into the hand
of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation
Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as is the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese," he added.The nun had recently
questioning why the church was "closing its eyes to the truth", when she had mustered courage to make public her suffering.She alleged that
Bishop Mulakkal was using "political and money power" to "bury" the case against him.The nun has accused the clergyman of repeated sexual
assault between 2014 and 2016.The bishop has, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled charges
against the catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favours.Kerala police on Friday registered a complaint against the Missionaries
of Jesus hours after the congregation released a photograph of the nun, seated with her alleged tormentor.The congregation put out the
photograph in a release issued to the media to publish the findings of its enquiry commission, which looked into the nun's
allegations.Indian laws prohibit revealing the identity of rape and sexual assault survivors and victims.The congregation, however,
cautioned against publishing the photograph, saying it cannot be held responsible if the press violates the rule.The case was registered by
the Kuravilangadu police station in Kottayam district on the complaint filed by the alleged survivor's brother, officials said
The convent is located within the Kuravilangadu police station limits.The nun's brother approached Deputy Superintendent of Police K
Subhash, who heads the special investigation team, with the complaint, they said.
