Bishop Franco Mulakkal has been acquitted of all charges in the nun sexual harassment case. Delivering the verdict, Kottayam Additional Session Court judge Justice G Gopakumar said the prosecution has failed to prove any of the charges against the bishop. Bishop Franco was present when the verdict was pronounced.
The landmark case was decided after more than 100 days of trial in the court. The controversy had shaken the Roman Catholic Church in India.
The case relates to an accusation that Bishop Franco had raped an inmate of the monastery of Missionaries of Jesus at Kuravilangad in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016. In protest against filing of chargesheet, the nuns of the monastery had staged dharna and agitations, which received widespread support from all walks of life.
Out of the 83 witnesses produced in the court, 39 had supported the prosecution’s version. Save Our Sisters forum expressed the hope that they will finally get justice.
The verdict was a slap on the face of the Kerala Police and the prosecution. Former Kottayam SP S Harishankar said the verdict failed to send a right message to the society. According to him, he failed to understand why such a verdict has come despite witnesses favouring the prosecution and all evidences were against the accused.
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