Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was arrested on charges of raping a nun, will be produced before court on Saturday. The bishop has been discharged from the Kottayam Medical College Hospital in Kerala where he was admitted on Friday night after he complained of chest pain.
The doctors at the medical college have confirmed that his health condition is fine, sources said. The bishop is yet to leave the hospital.
On Friday, soon after the arrest, Bishop Franco was subjected to a medical examination at the Thrippunithura taluk hospital. The 54-year-old clergyman was then taken to Kottayam Police Club. However, en route to Kottayam, the bishop complained of chest pain and was admitted to the medical college. According to police sources, the medical tests at Thrippunithura had revealed that the bishop's blood pressure was high.
The bishop will be taken to the Kottayam Police Club for further questioning. He will be produced before the Pala Judicial magistrate court before noon. Kottayam SP Hari Sankar on Friday said the police will seek custody of the bishop for three days.
Mulakkal, facing allegations of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting the nun, was arrested late on Friday after intense interrogation over the last three days.
Confirming the arrest, Kottayam district police chief said "on the basis of evidence collected and after the interrogation, the arrest was recorded at 8 pm". SP Hari Sankar, however, refused to reveal whether bishop Franco has confessed to the crime or not.
This is the first time in the country that a bishop has been arrested for rape. "Given the stature of the accused, the police left nothing to chance before arresting him," a police officer said on the condition of anonymity.
