An Indian court in the state of Kerala acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent on Friday, citing lack of evidence.

The Additional District and Sessions Court II acquitted the accused as the prosecution had failed to produce substantial evidence in the case. &nbsp;

In the case, 57-year-old Mulakkal was accused of raping the nun several times during the visit to a convent in the southern state. &nbsp;

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The alleged incident happened when he was the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic church. &nbsp;

In June 2018, a rape case was registered by police against the Bishop in Kottayam district after much furore. &nbsp;

In the complaint to the police, the nun alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Mulakkal from 2014 to 2016. &nbsp;

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The Bishop was arrested in September 2018 by the Special Investigation Team, which probed the case. He was charged with rape, unnatural sex, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. &nbsp;

In November 2019, the trial had started in the case. It got concluded on January 10. &nbsp;

The print and electronic media were also restrained from publishing any matter relating to the trial by the court without its permission. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An Indian court in the state of Kerala acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent on Friday, citing lack of evidence.

An Indian court in the state of Kerala acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent on Friday, citing lack of evidence. The Additional District and Sessions Court II acquitted the accused as the prosecution had failed to produce substantial evidence in the case. In the case, 57-year-old Mulakkal was accused of raping the nun several times during the visit to a convent in the southern state. Also Read: Philippines to buy India's BrahMos missile The alleged incident happened when he was the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic church. In June 2018, a rape case was registered by police against the Bishop in Kottayam district after much furore. In the complaint to the police, the nun alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Mulakkal from 2014 to 2016. Also Read: India reports over 6% increase in COVID-19 cases; 315 deaths in 24 hours The Bishop was arrested in September 2018 by the Special Investigation Team, which probed the case. He was charged with rape, unnatural sex, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. In November 2019, the trial had started in the case. It got concluded on January 10. The print and electronic media were also restrained from publishing any matter relating to the trial by the court without its permission. (With inputs from agencies)

Lack of evidence forces Indian court to acquit Bishop Franco Mulakkal in nun rape case

District and Sessions court on Monday acquitted six persons charged with rioting and snatching at Hafed Chowk — the epicentre of violence on August 25 last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Charges were pressed against the accused of rioting, snatching and instigating violence at Hafed Chowk where protests turned violent in August last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

According to reports, the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.&nbsp;

On August 30, a case was filed under Sections 148 (rioting), 149 and 379-A (snatching) of the IPC.

The main accused, spokesperson of Dera Sacha Sauda Aditya Insan, is still reported to be at large.&nbsp;

The Dera chief was jailed in August last year after he was convicted of raping two of his women disciples.&nbsp;

After his conviction Guru Ram Rahim's followers went on a rampage in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 38 people dead and over 260 injured.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Haryana government to make arrangements at the district jail in Sunaria for the judge to pronounce the quantum of sentence.

The high court had directed that necessary arrangements be made for the security and safe transport by air of the judicial officer and two of his staff members.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to reports, the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.

District and Sessions court on Monday acquitted six persons charged with rioting and snatching at Hafed Chowk — the epicentre of violence on August 25 last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Charges were pressed against the accused of rioting, snatching and instigating violence at Hafed Chowk where protests turned violent in August last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. According to reports, the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused. On August 30, a case was filed under Sections 148 (rioting), 149 and 379-A (snatching) of the IPC. The main accused, spokesperson of Dera Sacha Sauda Aditya Insan, is still reported to be at large. The Dera chief was jailed in August last year after he was convicted of raping two of his women disciples. After his conviction Guru Ram Rahim's followers went on a rampage in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 38 people dead and over 260 injured. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Haryana government to make arrangements at the district jail in Sunaria for the judge to pronounce the quantum of sentence. The high court had directed that necessary arrangements be made for the security and safe transport by air of the judicial officer and two of his staff members. (With inputs from agencies)

Dera Sacha Sauda violence case: Court acquits all six charged with rioting, snatching

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