KOTTAYAM: An appeal will be filed against the verdict of the district additional sessions court acquitting Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the nun’s rape case. Special Prosecutor Jithesh Babu handed over the legal advice to the district police chief.

The case is that a nun, member of Missionaries of Jesus Convent, was sexually abused by Bishop Franco Mulakkal from 2014 to 2016. The verdict was pronounced by Kottayam District Additional Sessions Court Judge G Gopakumar. The verdict said in a single line ‘acquitted’. Special prosecutors Jithesh J Babu and Subin K Varghese appeared for the prosecution, while advocates B Raman Pillai and C S Ajayan appeared for the defence.

S Harishankar, the then Kottayam district police chief and now AIG at the police headquarters, had said that he would appeal against the court verdict. Sister Anupama and other nuns who supported the victim said the fight for justice would continue even if they had to die.