JALANDHAR: Jalandhar diocese Bishop Franco Mulakkal , who has been accused of rape by a nun, on Tuesday alleged that it was a pressure tactic sponsored by anti-church groups and claimed that it had damaged his reputation.“Some damage has been caused to the reputation of the church, and mine, by the allegations and the media trial. But once my name is cleared, it would be restored. The damage has happened more due to media trial, which has already given the verdict against me,” he said while speaking to TOI at the Bishop House in Jalandhar, where he was questioned for around nine hours by a team of Kottayam police four weeks back.“However, some are sympathizing with me as they know that I am a victim in this case,” he added.Claiming that at one point of time he had even considered resignation in the face of the controversy, he said his fellow priests had advised him against it, saying it would send a wrong impression as it would appear admission of act (rape).“The protest is sponsored by the anti-church groups. Only those nuns have ganged up with the complainant who were part of the team she headed here as Superior General of Missionaries of Jesus Sisters (MJS) in Jalandhar Cantt. It is their last resort as a pressure tactic after a police official gave a statement that there was no sufficient evidence to arrest me,” the Bishop said. “The five nuns accompanying the complainant in the protest are supposed to be working in other convents but they are staying in Kerala in disobedience,” he said. “The complainant is building the pressure as she knows that if my name is cleared in police probe then she would face questions on how she lost her virginity. She aimed her anger at me as I just gave a go ahead for an inquiry in a complaint of moral turpitude received against her,” he added.The bishop said he had not received any summons from Kerala police till now but would go there if called. “Earlier, too, I cooperated with the probe team and would continue to do so even now. However, looking at the pressure tactics being adopted against me and the vilification campaign, I may move an application for anticipatory bail if my advocate advises me,” he said.“The MJS has rules which state that any nun going to see a priest would take a companion nun with her. Even the complainant never visited me alone,” he said.

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