Bishop Franco Mulakkal, Accused Of Raping Kerala Nun, Steps Down
NEW DELHI: Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, the accused in the Kerala nun rape case, has stepped down amid reports that the case has been brought to the notice of the Vatican. The church representative from India is in the Vatican and is likely to discuss the issue, news agency ANI reported.
Bishop Franco Mulakkal said in a letter, "I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and prayers for me at this time continued problems affecting my Episcopal ministry. As you have probably come to know from the media the investigation into the allegations raised against me there are several contradictions in the evidences collected against me as per the report of the police. It is reported I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala."
"I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation. In my absence Msgr. Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese as is the normal practice when I am away from the Diocese," he added.
Hours after the letter was released, Jalandhar police served a notice to Bishop Franco Mulakkal, to appear before the Kerala police on September 19.
The nun had recently sought urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded Bishop Franco Mulakkal's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese, questioning why the church was "closing its eyes to the truth", when she had mustered courage to make public her suffering.
She alleged that Bishop Mulakkal was using "political and money power" to "bury" the case against him.
The nun has accused the clergyman of repeated sexual assault between 2014 and 2016.
The bishop has, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled charges against the catholic order as it had rejected her demand for favours.
Kerala police on Friday registered a complaint against the Missionaries of Jesus hours after the congregation released a photograph of the nun, seated with her alleged tormentor.
The congregation put out the photograph in a release issued to the media to publish the findings of its enquiry commission, which looked into the nun's allegations.
Indian laws prohibit revealing the identity of rape and sexual assault survivors and victims.
The congregation, however, cautioned against publishing the photograph, saying it cannot be held responsible if the press violates the rule.
The case was registered by the Kuravilangadu police station in Kottayam district on the complaint filed by the alleged survivor's brother, officials said. The convent is located within the Kuravilangadu police station limits.
The nun's brother approached Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash, who heads the special investigation team, with the complaint, they said.
courtesy : ndtv.com
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'Snakebites across country, do something': SC asks Centre to take states on board
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday observed the issue of snakebites was prevalent "throughout the country" and asked the Centre to take all states on board to "do something" in making available snakebite treatment in medical facilities.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and S V N Bhatti was hearing a plea that said the country faced a significant public health crisis due to the scarcity of anti-venom, crucial in treating snakebites.
"You can take the states on board. The problem is throughout the country," the bench told the Centre's counsel.
It went on, "You can have a meeting with all the representatives of the states and try to do something. It is not an adversarial litigation."
The Centre's counsel said the government would place on record its steps taken on the issue.
The lawyers of some states said they would file their counter affidavit in the matter following which the bench granted them six weeks and posted the matter after that.
On December 13 last year, the apex court sought responses from the Centre and others on the plea filed by Shailendra Mani Tripathi, an advocate.
The plea sought directions to make available anti-venom and snakebite treatment at health centres, government hospitals and medical colleges to save lives of victims.
The plea, filed through advocate Chand Qureshi, argued India with the highest rate of snakebite deaths globally witnessed 58,000 fatalities approximately each year.
"Despite this much of high mortality rate there is scarcity of anti-venom (polyvenom)," it argued.
The plea said many rural areas in the country lacked adequate stocks of anti-venom, leading to delays in treatment for snakebite victims.
The plea therefore sought directions to conduct snakebite prevention health mission and public awareness campaigns to reduce mortality, particularly in rural areas.
It sought directions to establish snakebite treatment and care units along with specialised trained doctors as per standard medical norms in government district hospitals and medical colleges.
