Nun and govt file plea in HC against Franco Mulakkal in rape case

KOCHI: The nun filed an appeal in the high court against the verdict acquitting Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the rape case. The nun filed the plea saying that the trial court failed in examining the evidences.

The government also filed an appeal in the high court seeking the same. The decision is based on the legal advice of the AG. The police had earlier written to the government asking to appeal against the trial court's verdict. With this in mind, the government has now filed an appeal.

The district additional sessions judge G Gopakumar pronounced the verdict acquitting Franco Mulakkal on January 14, 2022. The court ruled that the prosecution could not find scientific evidence and that there were inconsistencies in the nun's statement.

The complaint said the nun was sexually abused by the bishop from 2014 to 2016. The case was registered in June 2018 and the bishop was later arrested.