Bishop Franco files discharge plea in rape case

Kottayam (Kerala), January 25

Bishop Franco Mulakkal, former head of Jalandhar diocese of Roman Catholic Church, on Saturday filed a discharge petition before a lower court here in connection with the case of alleged rape of a nun.

In his plea filed before the Additional District and Sessions Court I, Mulakkal claimed that prima facie there was no case to frame charges against him.

The trial court adjourned the matter to February 4 for the prosecution to file its objection to the plea filed by Mulakkal, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a nun of the same diocese.

Mulakkal filed the discharge plea as the court was supposed to commence the preliminary hearing on charges on Saturday. However, he was not present in the court.

The case is based on a complaint filed against Mulakkal by the nun. — PTI