NCW approaches Kerala CM over concerns of sabotage of evidence in nun rape case

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday urged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take prompt action to ensure prevention of sabotage of material evidence and witnesses in the pending case against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

In a letter addressed to Vijayan, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote: "I would like to draw your kind attention towards two different complaints received by the National Commission for Women from Sister Neena Rose and Sister Ranit Pallasseril of St. Francis Mission Home, Kuruvilangadu, Kerala, who have been directed to leave their convent in Kottayam District, Kerala in compliance with the transfer order issued by their congregation last year." "The complainants alleged that the transfer orders were aimed, to split them and 'to sabotage the case' against Bishop Franco Mullakal, which is pending trial," she added.

Sharma said the two sisters alleged that the orders were issued to pressurise and threaten them as they were "prominent witnesses" in the case. She underlined that the complainants also apprehend danger to their lives if they were transferred to distant regions.

"As you are aware of the seriousness of the issue, the National Commission for Women urges your personal intervention into the matter to ensure the safety of the complainants (victim of the case under trial) and the fellow nuns. I, therefore, request you to take prompt action to ensure prevention of sabotage of material evidence and witnesses in the pending case against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, so that justice may prevail," Sharma stated in the latter.

Last month, Save Our Sisters (SOS), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), had written a letter to Vijayan seeking government intervention to protect the nuns who led the agitation against Mulakkal.

Sister Anupama, along with three other nuns who had pledged support for the nun who was allegedly raped by the Jalandhar Bishop, also penned down a letter to the Chief Minister seeking his intervention in the matter.

Mulakkal has been accused of raping and forcing unnatural sex on the nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016. He was released by the Kerala High Court on an unconditional bail in October last year.

(With inputs from agencies.)