NEW DELHI:
Jalandhar Bishop
Franco Mulakkal, accused of allegedly raping a
nun in
Kerala, on Tuesday alleged that there was a conspiracy against the church and that the sisters are being used by few people.
He said that some people were taking advantage of the sisters by putting them at the forefront.
"I feel there are people who are against the church, they're using these sisters. This is a conspiracy and several people are taking advantage of the situation, they are putting sisters at the forefront," said the Jalandhar bishop.
"Police questioned me for 9 hrs. They took her statement too and there were contradictions. They (police) are studying it as to who's speaking truth. I've heard they're (nuns) protesting. It's their right to protest," said Mulakkal, according to news agency ANI.
A protest was also held on Tuesday by the nuns who demanded that the
bishop be arrested as soon as possible.
"When we came to protest, we knew it'll be life threatening. We had complained to Mother General Sr. Regina but she wants to support the bishop, fearing that if she doesn't, her position will be taken away," said a nun in Kochi.
On Monday, the
Kerala high court had said that no one is above the law while hearing a petition seeking immediate arrest of Franco Mulakkal.
While assuring that there is no need of apprehension regarding the rule of law, the court also asked the state government to file a report regarding the progress made in the investigation and also on the action taken on the complaint filed by the nun regarding threat to her life.
The court asked the government to respond by Thursday after senior public prosecutor Suman Chakravarthy sought two days’ time to get instructions in the matter.
The nun has accused Jalandhar bishop of raping and having
unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.
