Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was temporarily relieved of his pastoral responsibilities by Pope Francis in 2018 following allegations of rape by a nun, has resigned from the Jalandhar Bishop's post, a church source said on Thursday.
Even as the victim-nun moved the high court to set aside the acquittal, the state government on Wednesday granted sanction for filing an appeal against the trial court's January 14, 2022 decision.
A day after the resignation of bishop Franco Mulakkal as Jalandhar bishop, 'Save Our Sisters' campaigners on Friday said the survivor nun who had levelled rape charges against him would continue her fight for justice through the legal system.
As the prosecution failed to produce evidence against the accused, the Additional District and Sessions Court II acquitted the Bishop.
Granting bail, the court directed him not to leave the state till the chargesheet is read out to him on August 13 and to be present court on the dates of hearing of the case.
His lawyers moved the application, submitting that the clergyman was arrested after a three-day-long interrogation by the probe team.
A group of nuns, led by Sister Anupama, had fought on behalf of the victim nun who had accused Mulakkal of raping her multiple times.
The Bishop will have to surrender his passport and his entry to Kerala will be restricted.
The SOS alleged that the police failed to act in the sexual harassment charges levelled against the former Jalandhar diocese Bishop by the nun, who is also a key witness in the 'nun rape case'.
Detailing the charges of rape against the Bishop, the SOS claimed the rape case remains proved absolutely and the "abduction and attempt to murder case" of the accused Bishop stands dismissed being totally false."
Former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was acquitted by a local court in Kerala last year over rape charges by a nun, met Pope Francis in Vatican last week, a church source said in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
The Additional Sessions Court Judge read out to Mulakkal, who was present in the court, the charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including the punishment for offence for rape as it commenced trial proceedings in the sensational case.
The Pope appointed Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Bombay Agnelo Rufino Gracias as the Apostolic administrator of the diocese of Jalandhar with immediate effect, a CBCI statement said.
She alleged that she has been isolated and humiliated by fellow inmates of the convent.
The court cancelled his bail, considering the prosecution argument that the accused was trying to delay the trial, and posted the case to August 13.
Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun several times between 2014 and 2016, is currently out on bail.
'The problem is not lack of evidence, but the unholy alliance between political parties and church authorities.' 'If you are raising a voice against the priest, you and your family will suffer.'
The 54-year old Mulakkal was arrested by Kerala police after intense interrogation in Kochi over the last three days.
The clergyman has been shifted to the sub-jail in Pala after completing his medical examination at a government hospital.
The Bishop's move came ahead of his appearance before the Kerala Police team on September 19 in connection with the case.
Police had said the nun was subjected to rape and unnatural sex by the accused at the guest house of St Francis Mission Home 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
The protest led by the nuns and Catholic reformist forums in Kochi in September had led to a public outrage and demands for action against the bishop.
Roman Catholic bishop Franco Mulakkal was arrested on September 21 after being accused of repeatedly raping and sexually abusing a nun between 2014 and 2016.
"The first phase of interrogation is over. He has been asked to be present tomorrow morning at 11 am for continued interrogation. He has agreed to it," Kottayam Superintendent of police Hari Sankar said after the marathon questioning of the priest.
Nuns doubt Bishop Franco still wields power in the diocese.
The Jalandhar bishop of the Roman Catholic church was grilled by the SIT for 7 hours on Wednesday.
Claiming innocence, the bishop also said the complaint was "nothing but a fictional story" by the nun
A group of nuns of Kuravilangad convent in Kottayam district of Kerala, who have been standing with the survivor in her fight, were on the verge of tears when they said they were yet to believe such a verdict came out from the court and they did not know what has happened.
The nun had recently sought urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded the bishop's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese.
The nuns -- Alphy, Anupama, Josephine and Ancitta -- were served notice by the superior general of the congregation, Regina Kadamthottu, urging them to take up their assigned responsibilities as befitting members of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation.
They alleged that the police probing the case was trying to sabotage the investigation.
Sister Lucy Kalappura, one of the nuns who protested against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, in her autobiography titled 'Karthaavinte Naamathil' (In the name of the Lord) writes that even church leaders who supported the sisters, the victims of sexual abuse, have now started supporting the accused.
She alleged that by continuing in the position of Jalandhar diocese Bishop, Franco Mulakkal and his close associates "are using the wealth of the diocese to divert" the course of the police investigation.
According to police, no visible injury marks were found on the body of the priest.
In a press release, the congregation accused the victim, her five fellow nuns and four others of conspiring against the bishop.
The bench observed that if a hasty investigation was conducted, the accused would be allowed to go scot-free.
The nun had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016.
Slamming the public outcry over the alleged delay in action against Jalandhar Bishop, Auxilary Bishop of Changanassery Archdiocese, Thomas Tharayil sought to know whether declaring a person guilty without an investigation and trial was also a new Kerala model.
Police have initiated action against independent MLA P C George who had levelled derogatory charges against the victimised nun.
'Women all over India want a safer atmosphere at the place where they go to pray or meditate.'
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