Daijiworld Media Network

Kochi, Sep 14: The Missionaries of Jesus have released the picture of the nun, who accused Jalandhar diocese bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her multiple times, with a disclaimer that they are not responsible if the picture is published.

The picture shows the rape survivor sitting with Bishop Franco Mulakkal at a private function on May 23, 2015. The congregation in a statement claimed that the picture was taken the next day after the first incident of alleged rape took place. As she is sitting with the bishop, it proves she was not raped the previous day, they claim.

Their statement reads, “The Missionaries of Jesus has understood that the allegations about the Bishop repeatedly raping the nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016 is false and is part of a conspiracy. In the month of May in 2015, the sister had invited the bishop for a function and even after that, it has been found that the sister has taken part in a lot of functions with the bishop. Any woman, who was raped by a man, would never attend functions or travel with that man. This is a truth that cannot be denied.”

Dismissing the nun’s allegations as part of the conspiracy, the congregation said that other pieces of evidence will be handed over to the investigators as and when they are discovered.

The last line of the press statement says that the picture is just for the evidence and that congregation would not be responsible if the picture becomes public.

According to law, publishing the identity of a rape victim is an offence in itself. It is punishable with imprisonment and a fine imposed by the court.

The nun in her petition to the Vatican representative in India has alleged that Franco Mulakkal was using “political and money power” to bury the case. Seeking his removal from the post, she has alleged that there are many nuns who are suffering silently.