Munmun Kaur
Published On: January 15, 2022 at 12:50 IST
Additional Sessions Court in Kerala’s Kottayam, on January 14, Acquitted Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the 2018 Kerala nun rape case. Needless to say, this decision did not settle well with a lot of people.
A group of nuns of Kuravilangad Convent, who stood by the victim during this long trial for justice, expressed their dissent. They said that they were yet to believe that such a verdict was given by the Court. They vowed to take forward the fight of their colleague. They further said that they would challenge the verdict in a higher Court. One of the nuns, Sister Anupama said that they would continue to stay at the convent and fight until their sister gets justice from the Judiciary.
She further added, “It happens every time when people have money and power. This time also we feel that the verdict happened after bribing. But we are thankful to all people who have supported us, not just our religion, but all religions”.
In her complaint to the police in June 2018, the survivor had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse, 13 times by Bishop Franco on his visits between 2014 and 2016. The Special Investigation Team which probed the case arrested the Bishop and charged him with wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex, and criminal intimidation.