This is #FrancoMulakkal.
He was Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar since 2013.
June 2018:
43-year-old nun belonging to Missionaries of Jesus congregation, alleged that she was sexually abused by Franco Mulakkal during his visits between 2014 & 2016 to Kerala.
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Sept 2018:
Kottayam-based nun made a fervent appeal to Vatican’s representative in India,
seeking justice in her 7 page letter.
She said that Franco is having “eagle’s eye” on a few other MJ sisters & that 20 sisters have left the org.
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After getting no help from the Chcurch, Nuns approached Kerala Police.
FIR was lodged against Franco Mulakkal.
21 Sept, 2018:
@policektm arrested bishop & remanded him to judicial custody.
Finally, he was temporarily relieved of from diocese by @Pontifex.
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November 2019:
Trial started.
A total of 39 people – mostly nuns of Missionaries of Jesus convent in Kuravilangad, Kottayam – stepped forward as witnesses in the case.
Surprisingly, court restrained media from publishing the trial of the case.
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Dismissing the female clergy en masse as power mongers, Judge shockingly observed:
The in-fight and rivalry and group fights of the nuns, and the desire for power, position and control over the congregation is evident in this case.
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Other observations:
1. The police could not find the phone to which the bishop allegedly sent messages to the victim.
2. Police told the court that the mobile phone was disposed of by some scrap dealer and they couldn't trace it.
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3. The laptop used by the survivor was also not produced before the court.
4. Franco’s phone was not submitted by him to disprove allegations that he sent her messages while saying that it had been disposed of.
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January 2022:
Despite none of the victims turning hostile, their testimonies were dismissed as either unreliable or ill-motivated by Kottayam Additional Sessions judge, G Gopakumar.
He also acquitted Franco Mulakkal of sexual assault charges.
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2022:
State of Kerala has appealed against the decision before the High Court.
2023:
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation submitted by the Rt. Rev. Franco Mulakkal as Bishop of Jalandhar.
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