KOTTAYAM: Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun , was taken to the convent near Kuravilangad by the investigation team on Sunday morning as part of evidence gathering. The bishop was taken to room no 20 in the convent where he allegedly raped the complainant several times during the period 2014-‘16. The room was used by the bishop during his visits to the convent.The complainant nun and five other nuns, who had launched an agitation demanding the arrest of the bishop, were shifted to an adjacent old age home during the visit of the probe team. Three other nuns, who are residing in the convent, were waiting in the corridor as he wished and walked past them to the room. The clothes of the Bishop kept in the cupboard in the room were examined. The probe team repeated the questions related to the complaint, including the sexual assault, which the bishop denied of doing. Visitors’ diary at the convent was also examined.The whole procedure lasted for around 50 minutes. There was heavy deployment of police force in and around the convent. Public were not allowed near the convent. There were 20 personnel of Rapid Response and Rescue Force of the Kerala Police present at the convent to protect the accused.As the bishop stepped out of the convent after completing the procedures, residents who have gathered nearby booed at him. The crowd waiting on the main road too booed at the police vehicle carrying the bishop.Police can have Mulakkal in custody till 2.30 pm on Tuesday. According to Kottayam SP Hari Sankar, he would be produced before Pala magistrate court on Tuesday morning. "We won’t seek to extend the custody period. The process of collection of evidence has been completed," he said. tnn

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