Flip-flop may prove costly for Kerala bishop Franco Mulakkal

KOTTAYAM: The contradictions in the statement of bishop Franco Mulakkal during the interrogation will be crucial to his arrest. According to sources, if the contradictions cross 10, arrest will be imminent. However, the probe team will be looking for a green signal from the DGP and the IG to go ahead as the bail application of the bishop is under the consideration of the high court.The probe team has prepared over hundred questions with sub-sections to interrogate the bishop.

There are indications that police will move for an arrest only after September 25, when his bail application will be considered by the court.
However, sources in the probe team claim that the law does not prohibit the arrest of the bishop even if his bail application is pending.
Meanwhile, the bishop has been asked to appear before the probe team head DSP K Subhash at his office in Vaikom before 10am on Wednesday. The interrogation is likely to be held here or in the hi-tech interrogation room in Ettumanur police station. There are also chances that the bishop will be taken to the Police Club in Kottayam for interrogation.
However, police are tightlipped about the interrogation plans and are likely to make last minute changes considering the security aspect and even do not rule out shifting the venue of interrogation outside the district.
The bishop was interrogated for around nine hours at the Bishop House in Jalandhar on August 13. After questioning, the probe team had picked some holes in the statements of the bishop.
Mulakkal had handed over the administrative charges to his aide on September 13 and wrote to Pope Francis seeking permission to step down as the bishop of Jalandhar on September 16.
Sisters to continue protests till bishop’s arrest: Save Our Sisters action council—which is supporting the protesting nuns in Kochi—will intensify its campaign in the coming days to ensure that the arrest of rape suspect bishop Franco Mulakkal is not delayed further.
With the high court deferring his anticipatory bail plea, SOS leaders on Tuesday said that they are planning to hold similar protests in other districts as well. “We will persistently continue our protest till the bishop is arrested. If at all they decide not to arrest him after interrogation, then the state will witness an even stronger protest in the coming days,” said SOS coordinator Fr Augustine Vattoly.
Footfalls at the protest venue remained unaffected on Tuesday with many more arriving from far-off places to join the protest. RSP leader Shibu Baby John offered his support to the nuns. The sister of the survivor and activist P Geetha continued their hunger strike for the second straight day.
Before a decision was taken on Franco’s anticipatory bail hearing, there was visible tension and anticipation at the protest venue.
TV channels rushed onstage to get the response of protesting nuns soon after the court issued its ruling. “Now, it is up to the police to make a decision on his arrest. I’m hopeful that they would make the right choice and arrest him,” said Sr Anupama.
Mulakkal to be interrogated at Triuniphura
The interrogation centre at Tripunithura where Bishop Franco Mulakkal will be questioned is a high tech facility with cameras, hidden microphones and wireless devices to give information to the interrogating officer from outside.
"It has been over a year since we started the interrogation room here. The centre is used for special purposes like these. It has cameras that could record every facial expressions, changes and nuances on the face of the accused," said PP Shams, Assistant Commissioner Thrikkakara.
On Wednesday morning, traffic police at Tripunithura has been given directions to maintain vigil at the Tripunithura Armed Reserve Camp as well, where the police would change the interrogation to, in case of an emergency.
The Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal is accused of rape by a nun who used to work with him at Jalandhar.