The Kerala police have filed a case against the congregation Missionaries of Jesus for releasing the photo of the rape victim nun with the bishop she had accused of rape. As per laws, revealing the identity of a victim of rape or sexual assault is a crime. The case was reportedly lodged late on Friday.
Yesterday, the congregation Missionaries of Jesus has held a ‘preliminary inquiry’ and declared that bishop Franco Mulakkal is innocent and he did not stay in the Kuravilangad convent on the day the said nun has accused him of raping her. The congregation has also alleged that the nun, along with five others has conspired to frame the bishop.
Jalandhar Bishop didn’t stay in Kuravilangad convent on 5.5.14 as claimed in rape complaint by the nun. On 23.5.15, they can be seen at a function with the Bishop in a photo. All this points that there was no rape: Missionaries of Jesus Inquiry Commission’s findings. #Kerala https://t.co/eNxXtyEJxv
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2018
The Missionaries of Jesus has also indulged in victim shaming by releasing a photo of the victim with the accused taken a day after the alleged rape took place. According to reports, the congregation had cautioned against the publishing of the photograph by the press and declared that it cannot be held responsible if the press does not follow the rules.
Following the release of the so-claimed ‘preliminary-inquiry report’ by the Missionaries of Jesus, the brother of the victim had approached DSP K Subhash, who is heading the SIT for the case and following his complaint, a case was registered at the Kuravilangad police station. The victim nun was a part of the Kuravilangad convent and has never appeared in front of the media or public after she filed the case against bishop Mulakkal.
In their ‘inquiry report,’ the Missionaries of Jesus had accused the nun of conspiring with others, forging the visitor’s registers and even tampering the CCTV footage to frame bishop Mulakkal.
It is notable here that the Kerala police is under criticism for taking too long to initiate action against the accused bishop. Last month the goons of the bishop had attacked journalists while they attempted to take his pictures after a visiting team of Kerala police had interrogated him. There have been several instances of victim shaming and attempts to protect the bishop in this case. Earlier an independent MLA in Kerala, PC George had called her a ‘prostitute’.
