Franco Mulakkal's interrogation to continue today; the decision to arrest to be taken in a day or two, says Kerala DGP Loknath Behera
Kochi: Franco Mulakkal repeated his earlier statement to the investigation team that he is innocent and he was not present at Kuravilangadu seminary on the day when the complainant said he was present.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala police probing the case of alleged rape of a nun by the Bishop resumed interrogating the accused on Thursday even as the State police chief said a decision on Franco Mulakkal's arrest could be taken in a day or two.
Hours after Mulakkal, accused of repeated rape and sexual assault of a Kerala nun, appeared before the SIT for interrogation, the State's Director General of Police (DGP) Loknath Behera said the investigating officer will decide on whether to arrest him once the examination is over.
"After examining him thoroughly, a decision will be taken. Investigating team is on it. Let us wait. A decision will be definitely taken today or tomorrow after the interrogation," Behera told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the investigating officer was free to take a call on the issue.
When asked whether Mulakkal can be arrested before September 25, the day his anticipatory bail plea will come up for hearing in the high court, the top police officer said, "I think, legally there is no problem. There is no such law (that bars arrest during pendency of bail plea). That we will discuss with the legal team." Citing convention, legal experts had said the priest is unlikely to be arrested before September 25.
Mulakkal, the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Missionaries of Jesus, the congregation to which the alleged victim also belongs to, was grilled by the SIT headed by Deputy SP K Subhash for seven hours on Wednesday. He was asked to appear again on Thursday.
The Bishop, who recently temporarily relinquished his administrative responsibilities, joined the probe at around 11 am at the crime branch office, where some members of All India Youth Federation, the students’ front of the CPI, held a protest demanding his arrest. They had also staged a protest on Wednesday. Some people also burnt an effigy of Mulakkal.
Kottayam Superintendent of Police Hari Sankar said the Bishop's questioning was likely to be over on Thursday.
Meanwhile, police have tightened security in and around the crime branch office. The nun has accused the senior Catholic priest of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016, allegations denied by the clergyman, who has pleaded innocence.
Meanwhile, the protest by various Catholic reform organisations and a group of nuns seeking Mulakkal's arrest entered its 13th day on Thursday. The agitation at Kochi's Vanchi Square is a spontaneous expression of outrage by these groups over the alleged assault of the nun.
A protesting nun said they were all waiting for the news of the arrest of the Bishop so a strong message goes out to those who abuse women.
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