The Kerala government on Wednesday filed an appeal before the High Court challenging the verdict of the Kottayam Additional District and Sessions Court acquitting Bishop Franco Mulakkal, former head of the Latin Catholic diocese of Jalandhar, in a case relating to raping a nun. The survivor also filed an appeal against the acquittal of the Bishop.
In its appeal, the government argued that the evidence given by the survivor and corroborated by several witnesses and documentary evidence had proved that the then mother superior of St. Francis Mission Home, Kurivilangad, was subjected to unnatural offence against the order of nature and rape by Franco Mulakkal, who wielded power and control over the home.
The prosecution had in fact proved through documentary evidence the presence of the accused there on the days when the rape and sexual assault took place. However, without appreciating the evidence in the correct perspective, the trial court had misconstrued facts and the law and acquitted him of the charges of rape, the State said.
