Kottayam (Kerala): In a judgment that is going to be discussed critically for the days to come, the Kottayam Additional Sessions Court in Kerala on Friday acquitted bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was the prime accused in the sensational nun rape case.
As the prosecution failed to produce evidence against the accused, the Additional District and Sessions Judge G. Gopakumar acquitted the Bishop. Mulakkal, 57, who was present in person at the court during the pronouncement of the judgment, cried after hearing the judgment. He said he is thankful to God almighty and said he always hoped the truth will finally prevail.
The judgment was pronounced one-and-a-half years after the commencement of the trial. A nun, who was a member of the Missionaries of Jesus and a resident of St. Francis Mission Home at Kuruvilangad, had lodged a rape complaint against the bishop. The case was registered in June 2018.
"Daivathinu Sthuthi (praise the Lord)," Mulakkal said when reporters repeatedly sought his reaction. Some of his followers were even seen crying out of joy knowing the acquittal of the bishop. In a brief Malayalam statement issued soon after the verdict, the Jalandhar diocese thanked those who believed in the innocence of the bishop to date and provided him with the necessary legal assistance.
Also read: Kerala Nun Rape Case: Probe team to appeal against acquittal of Bishop Franco
"The prosecution has failed miserably in proving the charges against the bishop", said a lawyer in the bishop's legal team. However, senior IPS officer S. Harishankar, who had led the special investigation team in the rape case against the bishop, said the verdict was not acceptable and an appeal should be moved against it.
"It is a very very unfortunate verdict. We had expected 100 per cent conviction in the case," Harishankar told reporters. Echoing the same sentiments, Public Prosecutor Jithesh J. Babu said despite the victim's statement, the verdict came out like this.
"This could not be accepted", he said, adding that the verdict will be challenged in the higher court after getting the approval of the government. In her complaint to the police, the nun had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Franco between 2014 and 2016. The Special Investigation Team which probed the case arrested the bishop in September 2018 and charged him with wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.
The trial in the case started in November 2019, had concluded on January 10. The court had restrained the print and electronic media from publishing any matter relating to the trial in the case without its permission.
Read: Nun rape case: SC dismisses Bishop Franco Mulakkal's review plea
