Police thoroughly probing sexual abuse case of Kerala nun
Kottayam, July 3: A special police team probing the allegation levelled by a Catholic nun that she was repeatedly sexually abused by a bishop is investigating the case thoroughly before they question the high-ranking church official, said informed sources.
The nun alleged that Franco Mulakkal, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar (Punjab), sexually abused her 14 times between 2014 and 2016.
The bishop has denied the allegations, saying that he was being framed for taking action against her. According to Mulakkal, trouble started in 2016 when he took up a complaint against her.
The special team has already taken a detailed statement of the nun and a few of the inmates of the convent near here, where the nun is now staying and on Tuesday, forensic experts arrived to see what scientific evidence are required in the high-profile case which involves a high-ranking bishop of the powerful Roman Catholic Church.
According to the police probe team which completed the first round of evidence collection on Tuesday, it will now sit down to decide the time and nature of questioning the bishop.
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CM Siddaramaiah meets PM Modi, seeks urgent clearances for two irrigation projects
New Delhi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting rectification in short term farm loan limit, Rs 10,000 cr in financial support and urgent clearances for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Kalasa Bandhuri projects.
In the meeting in Parliament complex, Siddarmaiah pressed for several key interventions focusing on critical areas, including agriculture, water resources and urban infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister D K Shivakumar, Energy Minister K J George and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh accompanied the CM for the meeting.
The chief minister highlighted that NABARD has drastically cut the Short Term Agricultural Credit Limit for Karnataka from Rs 5,600 crore in 2023-24 to just Rs 2,340 crore in 2024-25, a 58 per cent reduction that could severely impact farmers' access to soft loans.
"I request you to look into this and direct the Finance Ministry to rectify this situation so that farmers in Karnataka continue to receive soft agricultural loans," Siddarmaiah said in a representation made to the PM.
He requested Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project, which promises to irrigate central Karnataka's drought-prone farmlands. The project has been pending since the 2023-24 Union Budget.
He also pushed for clearances of two critical water projects - the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir on the Kaveri river and the Kalasa Bandhuri project on the Mahadayi river -- both awaiting approvals from the Jal Shakti and Environment Ministries.
Highlighting Bengaluru's status as a tech hub and top GDP contributor, the state requested special assistance for urban and public transportation.
Additionally, Karnataka sought Rs 10,000 cr to develop infrastructure in 13 emerging city corporations.
On fiscal allocation, the CM complained of receiving an unfavourable deal from the 15th Finance Commission, which reduced its tax share by 1 per cent.
Siddaramaiah urged the government to provide compensation grants and ensure future finance commissions do not penalise states with significant tax contributions.
The Karnataka chief minister also met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and congratulated her on being elected as an MP from Wayanad.
