more-in “Bishop Franco Mulakkal to be arrested today” was the breaking story to which viewers of most news channels woke up to on Thursday morning, hours before the bishop who stands accused in the rape of a nun was set to appear for further interrogation after the seven hour-long grilling the previous day. The imminent arrest of the bishop remained the running theme for the good part of the day though there was no confirmation of any such move by the investigation team led by Hari Sanker, Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, and K. Subhash, DySP, Vaikkom, who were busy with the interrogation. In fact, at one point, a television channel reported that the bishop will be arrested sharp at 3 p.m. though that deadline passed with the bishop still being grilled. An hour from then the hypothesis over the arrest and its timing gave way to reports on Vatican’s decision to accept the bishop’s request to be temporarily relieved of his responsibility as the head of the Jalandhar diocese. But shortly thereafter, the rumours of arrest returned with increased vigour as Deputy Police Commissioner Hemendranath arrived at the interrogation centre around 5.44 p.m. which was seen as yet another sign of the imminent arrest. The sudden movement of police personnel inside the compound of the Crime Branch office, where the interrogation was under way, further strengthened the rumours only to die down shortly when it became clear that the bishop would be allowed to leave after the interrogation. The attention was shifted to the departure of the bishop as his car was taken out. Television crew vied with one another for space for their camera on the main gate while photographers of the print media took position on the other side of the compound wall giving them a clear view of the entrance to the office. The fading light outside the office was more than compensated, thanks to the flash bulbs of photographers and the television cameramen. As the car carrying the bishop emerged out of the office compound with police vehicles in the front and the back, there was a maddening rush for that best shot of the bishop seated inside. Once he had departed, the media turned the attention to the interrogating officer Mr. Sanker and the scenes were no different.

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