KOTTAYAM: The Kuravilangadu police on Monday registered a case against Fr James Erthayil who tried to influence a nun to withdraw the rape complaint against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese.
The case was registered at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Pala, on various charges, including influencing her by offering 10 acres of land and a separate convent, to withdraw the complaint.
In the audio conversation, leaked on social media, Fr Ethayil, attached to the Kanjirappally diocese of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), was heard trying to influence Sister Anupama of Missionaries of Jesus, Kottayam, to withdraw the case.
Meanwhile, the CMI has distanced itself from the controversy by transferring Fr Ethayil to Idukki from the Kuriyanad ashram.