<span style="color: #222222;">In Kerala, the Additional Sessions Court in Kottayam today acquitted former Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping  a nun in 2014. The nun had alleged that she was raped at the Kuravilangad Convent in Kottayam district in May 2014, and the Bishop continued to  sexually exploit her  till 2016. She lodged a complaint in  June, 2018 after which the Bishop was arrested in September the same  year.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The prosecution had listed 83 witnesses in the case, of which 39 were examined. The witnesses included Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church  Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Bhagalpur Bishop Kurian Valiyakandathil and Ujjain Bishop Sebastian Vadakkel. 25 nuns and 11 priests were also examined in the case. Security was stepped up at the Court premises and also at the Kuravilangad Convent in view of the pronouncement of the verdict.</span>