Nun case: Jalandhar Bishop may be quizzed
The police team, which was staying at the Punjab Armed Police camp, will return to the state on Sunday.
Kottayam: The Kerala police team probing the sexual harassment charges against Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulackal may question him at the headquarters of the Punjab Armed Police camp in Jalandhar.
The six-member team led by Vaikom DySP K.. Subhash took the statements of Mother-General Rejina of the Missionaries of Jesus and other nuns at the convent in Jalandhar on Saturday.
Four priests belonging to the Jalandhar diocese reportedly said in their statements to the police that there was some truth in the nun’s complaint against the bishop.
The police team, which was staying at the Punjab Armed Police camp, will return to the state on Sunday. Jalandhar diocese PRO Fr Peter Kavum-puram told reporters that the bishop will cooperate with the investigation.
Meanwhile, the laity supporting the bishop assembled on the premises of the Sacred Heart church adjacent to the Bishop’s House from Friday morning onwards. A Punjab police team led by DCP Gurmeeth Singh reached the place and took stock of the situation. The Kerala team had reached New Delhi on Friday to take the statements of various people, including Ujjain Bishop Sebastian Vadakkeyil.
Though the team tried to meet the Apostolic Nuncio of Vatican to India, Giambattista Diqquatro, they were not given permission. The nun had said in her statement to the police that she had complained to the nuncio in January this year.