The 50-year-old nun shook the Catholic establishment, not just in Kerala, but across the country, when she levelled allegations against Mulakkal in 2018.
It was alleged that earlier in 2018, the nun first approached higher officials in the church, including the Pope’s office, with serious accusations against Mulakkal who was then a senior priest. However, she received no response.
In June 2018, when Mulakkal was the head of the Jalandhar diocese in Punjab , the nun filed a complaint before the Kottayam District Police Chief accusing Mulakkal of raping her 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
Subsequently, the Special Investigation Team which probed the case, arrested Franco and charged him under Sections 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 376 (2)(k), 376(2)(n) (rigorous imprisonment for not less than 10 years), 376 C(a) (intercourse by superintendent of remand home etc), 377 (unnatural offences) and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The trial began in September 2020 but at the request of Mulakkal’s counsel, the court had restrained the print and electronic media from publishing any matter relating to the trial.
Source: Barandbench
