Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala police team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police P. K. Subash, drew a blank on Saturday, unable to gain access to the Vatican embassy in New Delhi to record the statement of the apostolic nuncio in connection with the probe into allegations of rape against Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal.
The police had gone to the nuncio’s quarters at the embassy without prior appointment and were stopped at the entrance and sent back. They planned to go back to the embassy early next week after questioning the Bishop Mulakkal. The team would leave for Ujjain on Sunday.
The police meanwhile has found that a complaint filed by the relative of the Missionaries of Jesus mother superior, allegedly raped by the bishop 13 times, lacked substance as it had been under
coercion.
The bishop and the diocese had taken the stand that the relative’s complaint, questioning the nun’s character, was the provocation. They had also said the nun’s complaint was in retaliation for the disciplinary action taken by the bishop. This version had the backing of the congregation.
The police had earlier found that the bishop’s complaint of threat and intimidation against the nun’s relatives was not credible. Mr Subash said the driver, who had purportedly confessed to hearing the brother of the nun threatening the bishop, had been flown to Jalandhar to get his sign on the complaint.
