Kerala nun rape case: Accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal steps down

In the Kerala nun rape case, the accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal stepped down and recused himself from Bishop ship. He stepped down on September 15, days after being summoned by the Kerala Police. The Kerala police summoned the accused on September 19.

The nun wrote a letter to the Vatican representatives. The nun had recently sought urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded the bishop's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese, questioning why the church was "closing its eyes to the truth" when she had mustered courage to make public her suffering. The Church representative from India is in the Vatican to discuss the issue and is likely to intervene soon.

She alleged that Bishop Mulakkal was using "political and money power" to "bury" the case against him. The nun has accused the clergyman of repeated sexual assault between 2014 and 2016.

Earlier on 11 September, the Bishop broke his silence on the allegations of rape by the nun, claiming that the case was a conspiracy against the Church. He added that he was questioned by the police for nine hours and said the nuns who were protesting had the “right” to do so. The bishop has, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled charges against the catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favours.

"They (police) took her statement too and there were contradictions. They (police) are studying it as to who's speaking the truth. I've heard they're (nuns) protesting. It's their right to protest," he said.

Meanwhile, the Jalandhar police commissioner said his team would merely assist the Kerala police in their investigation, denying any active role in the case.