Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun 13 times at a convent in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016, has arrived at the Kerala Police High-tech Cell office in Thripunithura near Kochi on Wednesday for questioning.
In a late night development, it was decided that the Jalandhar bishop will be questioned in Kochi and not in Kottayam, as decided before.
The investigating officers have already arrived at the probe centre and it is learnt that the questioning has begun.
This is the second time the bishop is being grilled. A team, headed by Vaikom deputy superintendent of police K. Subhash, had grilled the clergyman for nine hours at the Bishop House in Jalandhar on August 15.
The police have found that many of the bishop's statements are contradicting with that of the victim nun and other witnesses. All such contradictions will be clarified on Wednesday, the police said. The investigating team has prepared over 100 questions and follow-ups to iron out all the contradictions.
In an apparent hint that Bishop Franco Mulakkal might be taken into custody following the questioning on Wednesday, the police said the clergyman moving the high court for anticipatory bail won't be a hurdle for cops to arrest him. “The arrest will depend on the outcome of the questioning and evidences," Kottayam S.P. Harisankar told the press.
The Kerala High Court had postponed hearing on an anticipatory bail plea by the bishop to September 25.
Subhash will lead the first phase of interrogation. The cops will simultaneously investigate all statements given during the grilling.
Mulakkal will not be allowed to return to Jalandhar until the completion of questioning. Security at the interrogation centres and St Francis Mission Home at Kuravilangad in Kottayam has also been beefed up.
A team of the bishop's assistants from Jalandhar diocese has also reached Kottayam on Tuesday and met legal experts.
