KOCHI: Bishop Franco Mulakkal accused of rape by a nun was interrogated for about 8 hours for the second consecutive day at the special interrogation centre at Tripunithura.The investigation team has directed the accused Bishop to appear for interrogation on Friday morning at 10.30 am.Sources said that the investigation team had acquired key information that could lead to a possible arrest during the interrogation but is waiting for foolproof evidence before making a decision on whether to make an arrest or not.According to sources, anticipatory bail plea pending in court in connection with the case was one of the reasons why the police didn't proceed with the arrest and a decision on the arrest would be made after receiving the consultation.A legal consultation was made in this regard by the investigation team, however, the response for the same was yet to be received."It is not a legal opinion on paper but a legal consultation to make ourselves clear. We are hoping to get the legal consultation by Friday morning," said Kottayam SP Hari Sankar.Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare said that the case is old and several aspects need to be verified."The charge against the bishop is very serious and that is of rape. It is the bishop's responsibility to convince us that he is innocent. We are giving the bishop enough opportunity to explain to us and convince us that he is innocent. If he is able to do so fine, otherwise we would take the necessary action," said IG Vijay Sakhare.Kottayam SP added that many of the statements presented by the bishop need verification."Most of the facts provided by him was already known to us. But at least 10 per cent of the statements need verification," said the SP adding that three separate teams have been constituted who will cross verify the statements made during the interrogation by even visiting places.The SP who maintained that there would be a decision after Friday's questioning, however, refused to confirm whether there would be an arrest."Arrest is something that needs to be decided after a holistic analysis and cannot be decided midway," said the SP.Earlier, the bishop had arrived at the interrogation centre in Tripunithura at around 11.05 AM in Volkswagen Vento car accompanied by the PRO of Jalandhar diocese Fr Peter Kavumpuram. His associates came in the car he came in on Wednesday and in another vehicle.The bishop who stayed at a private hotel in Maradu came to the interrogation facility with two police vehicles escorting him for security.The police presence at the centre was boosted due to a protest taking place on Thursday evening and extra barricades were erected to avoid any untoward incidents. He left the interrogation centre at around 7 pm and is learnt to be at the same hotel he was staying on Wednesday night.The interrogation team is learnt to have had updated their questionnaire based on Wednesday's interrogation, which was being digitally recorded using multiple cameras in the high tech facility.The Inspector General said that he is verifying the progress of the interrogation every night and every morning. Officials said that the interrogation is progressing positively helping them verify several contradictions which existed earlier.Bishop Franco is accused of raping a nun who used to be at Jalandhar along with him for 13 times at St Francis Mission Home, Kuravilangad. The bishop was questioned at Jalandhar by the IO after which several contradictions in the statements of the witnesses, the accused and the complainant arouse. On Wednesday he was questioned for about 7 hours and was let off.

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