Kerala nun rape: Priest who gave statement against Bishop Franco found dead

Priest of the Jalandhar Diocese Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, who had given a statement against Bishop Franco Mulakkal to the Kerala police was found dead on Monday morning in Dasuya area of Hoshiarpur district, according to TV reports.

Father Kuriakose Kattutharawas 62 years old. He has been vociferously speaking against Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

"It was found that he vomited over the bed. Blood pressure tablets were found at the spot. The investigation is underway. In our notice, no security was provided to him. He used to live at StPaul's Church in Dasuya. He was found dead there. He was 62. The matter will be investigated. I have been informed that no injuries have been found," said AR Sharma, DSP Dasuya.

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Earlier, Father Kuriakose had alleged that he was always undermined by chapel authorities for his support to the nun who has accused the bishop of rape.

According to media reports, Kuriakose's family and a group of priests have alleged conspiracy in the death.

Franco Mulakkal, the senior Catholic priest accused of repeatedly raping a nun, had been granted bail by the Kerala High Court over three weeks after he was arrested.

In September, Mulakkal — head of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar, Punjab — was arrested in Tripunithura after three days of questioning in the case where he was accused of repeatedly raping a senior nun between 2014 to 2016.

The nun had alleged that Bishop Mulakkal raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and later sexually exploited her on several occasions.

The nun also said she had to approach the police as church authorities did not act on her repeated complaints against the clergyman.

(With inputs from agencies)