Thiruvananthapuram: Sister Lucy Kalappura, who had publicly protested against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal and was expelled from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) in the southern Indian state of Kerala earlier this month, has filed a complaint against Father Noble Thomas, a member of Mananthavady Diocese, for allegedly trying to defame her.
Vellamunda Police has lodged and (First Information Report) FIR against Father Nobel and five other sisters part of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation. Sister Lucy was expelled from the congregation on disciplinary grounds. She had participated in the protests against Bishop Mulakkal and believes the reason for her expulsion was her participation in the protests.
According to her complaint, Father Noble, in a video uploaded on YouTube has alleged that she brought two men to the convent through the kitchen door. In the video, father Noble can be seen criticizing sister Lucy for speaking out to the media and claims that she brought in two men to the convent through the kitchen door. The video also shows CCTV clippings of two men being accompanied by Sister Lucy into the convent through the backdoor.
Sister Lucy, however, has said that the two men were journalists who came to collect information regarding her previous complaint. Reacting to the complaint, Father Noble Thomas said, “My intention was not to defame anyone. My intention was just to reveal why the nuns locked the convent.” A case has been registered under IPC Section 509, which deals with ‘word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman’ and Section 500, which deals with ‘punishment for defamation’. The police will take a detailed statement from Sister Lucy after which statements of the accused will be recorded.
Earlier, the Franciscan Clarist Congregation issued a show-cause notice to expel nun Sister Lucy Kalappura, who had led protests against rape-accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal. The FCC demanded she withdraws her police complaint against a local superior nun and issue an apology for the same.
Reacting at the notice issued to her, the nun told, “They have demanded that I fully apologise and withdraw the case. That’s not going to happen. They should apologise to me for disparaging me for the way they have been torturing me from September 2018 onwards. If they accept me, I don’t have any problems. It’s not for me only. No woman must be subject to male domination.”
Sister Lucy had filed a police complaint earlier this week for wrongful confinement by the nuns at the convent. Following her expulsion, Sister Lucy was asked to leave the premises by the congregation. She, however, continues to stay there.
Courtesy: City Highlights