KOCHI, India — A Roman Catholic bishop was arrested in the south Indian state of Kerala on Friday on charges of raping a nun, police said, a day after the Vatican accepted the bishop’s request to be temporarily relieved of his duties.
There was no immediate comment from Bishop Franco Mulakkal or his lawyers — though he has denied the charges in interviews in the past.Mulakkal, who heads the diocese of Jalandhar, wrote to the Vatican on Sunday asking to step down temporarily as protests and calls for his arrest grew. The Vatican accepted his request on Thursday.
“He is charged with rape,” said Kochi’s inspector general of police, Vijay Sakhare.
