Bishop Mulakkal moves Kerala HC for bail again
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Kochi: Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of sexually assaulting a Kerala nun several times, has moved the High Court for bail again.
In his petition, the bishop said that he should be granted bail as the investigation was nearing completion.
Mulakkal, currently lodged in the Pala sub-jail, claimed that he had fully cooperated with the police.
This is the second time that he is approaching the HC for bail.
The magistrate’s court in Pala in Kottayam district had on Saturday remanded the 54-year old clergyman to judicial custody till October 20.
The HC had dismissed Mulakkal’s bail plea last week while accepting the prosecution’s argument that the accused, holding a high position in society, would try to influence the witnesses in the case if he was granted bail.
The police had said the investigation in the case was progressing even after the arrest of the accused.
In her complaint to the Kottayam police in June, the nun had alleged that the bishop raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May, 2014 and subsequently, sexually exploited her in several occasions.
The nun had said she had to approach the police as church authorities did not act on her repeated complaints against the bishop.
Mulakkal has however, denied the charges.
