Things are going from bad to worse for the Catholic Church in Kerala, with a senior nun who alleged rape charges against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, the head of the Latin diocese of Jalandhar, standing by her allegations during questioning by Investigating Officer K. Subhas, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vaikom, on Sunday.
The team which arrived at the Mission House of the Order of Missionaries of Jesus at Kuravilangad where the nun stays now, started questioning her by 11 a.m. The session continued till 4.30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the scandal appears to be getting murkier with counter allegations being raised by another section in the Church pointing to the alleged power struggle which is going on within the Jalandhar diocese and also within the Order in which the nun is functioning.
On Sunday evening, the General Councillor of the Order in which the nun works, told the media that though she had met the nun many times during this period, no such complaint was made to her. She also alleged that the present allegations against the Bishop were part of a campaign.
Later, speaking to media persons, Mr. Subhash said the nun had stood by the charges she had raised in the complaint. During questioning, she also made it clear that she had earlier made a complaint to Cardinal George Alancherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. However, the Cardinal had not taken any disciplinary action against the Bishop. It was then that she had directly approached the police, she said.
According to the police, they would now move the magisterial court for taking her deposition under Section 154 or Cr.PC. Since the Bishop is in Jalandhar, the team may have to visit Punjab.
However, the Bishop had filed a complaint with the District Police Chief on June 23 against the nun and her relatives alleging blackmailing.