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Kerala Police Finally Decide To Summon Rape-Accused Bishop
Representative Image. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Kerala police have finally summoned Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, a rape accused, to present himself before the investigating team by 19 September.
After a meeting was chaired by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Vijay Sakhare of Ernakulam Range, the decision had been taken. This was done after consultation with the Kottayam superintendent of police (SP) Harisankar and Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash after there has been increasing pressure on the police.
Between 2014 and 2016, the accused has been said to have raped the victim multiple times. In the bishop’s defence, he says that the complainant’s sister, god and himself know what the truth is.
According to News 18, lashing out against complainants, Mulakkal said, “Many derogatory statements are being made against me... Is anyone bothered? I am an individual and also a citizen... though I am an accused, that does not give anyone the licence to tarnish my character."
Following this comment, the victim has filed a petition to the representative of the Vatican in India. The petition reads that the accused has been abusing political and financial power to bury the case.
Kerala Congress has been vocal about the issue and has expressed solidarity with the victim.
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