Father Kuriakose Kattuthara was transferred to a Catholic church in Punjab’s Dasuya 15 days ago.
New Delhi: Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, who was reportedly a witness in a case related to the rape of a nun from Kerala, was found dead Monday morning at Dasuya in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district.
Kattuthara was found unconscious in his room, police officials said.
The priest was transferred 15 days ago to a Catholic church in Dasuya, police said. He was staying on the premises of the church.
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A nun from Kerala had accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting her. In her complaint filed in June, the nun had alleged that Bishop Mulakkal raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and later sexually exploited her on several occasions.
The nun said she had to approach the police as church authorities did not act on her repeated complaints against the clergyman.
Mulakkal was arrested on 21 September following widespread protests by nuns and priests demanding action against him. He denied the charges against him claiming that “anti-church” forces were acting against him. He had also stepped aside as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese in September.
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Mulakkal was granted conditional bail on 15 October. He was also asked to surrender his passport and not enter the state of Kerala except for appearing before the probe officer until a chargesheet is filed in the case.
With inputs from PTI