Non-Bailable Warrant Issued Against Rape Accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, Kerala Court Cancels Bail

A non-bailable warrant has been issued against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal after continuously failing to appear before the Kottayam additional district court despite strict orders, Times of India has reported.

The court consequentially also cancelled the bail granted to Mulakkal. When the trial began on 1 July, Mulakkal's lawyers had sought an exemption against him appearing before the court by claiming that his residence fell within the containment zone in Jalandhar.

The special prosecutor today (13 July) told the court that the defence is unnecessarily trying to delay the trial and pointed out that Mulakkal's residence is currently not in any containment zone.

The court thus issued the non-bailable warrant and adjourned the matter to 13 August.

Mulakkal is accused of wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation over sexual abuse of a nun between 2014 and 2016. He faces punishment up to life imprisonment if found guilty.

The complaint in this matter was filed in June 2018. Mulakkal has been out on bail since October 2018.