News Delhi: A petition by deposed Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun several times between 2014 and 2016 in Kerala, seeking to clear rape charges against him, was dismissed by the Supreme Court Wednesday, thus paving the way for him to face a trial.
The Supreme Court struck down his plea seeking discharge from the case on a claim that he was being falsely implicated after he initiated disciplinary proceedings against the nun for financial irregularities. “You don’t have a case and there is no merit in your petition,” said Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde as a top court bench heard Mulakkal’s petition. The bench, also comprised of justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
Appearing for Mulakkal, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi in his plea said that his client was being made a victim for action taken against the nun.
Mulakkal, who was granted bail in 2018, is accused of raping a nun belonging to the order of Missionaries of Jesus several times between 2014 and 2016 at a convent in Kottayam district in Kerala.
The 56-year-old was arrested following huge protests in Kerala and spent nearly 40 days in jail before he received bail. While he claims the charges are concocted, the rape victim and her colleagues in the order have stuck to their testimony.
Franco Mulakkal had moved Supreme Court after a trial court in Kottayam had cancelled his bail on grounds that he had failed to appear before the court several timings despite several warnings. On July 13, the Kottayam court had cancelled Mulakkal’s bail and had issued a non-bailable warrant against him.