Kottayam (Kerala), May 27 (PTI): Sister Anupama, who became a prominent figure in the fight against former Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in a high-profile rape case, has chosen to leave her life as a nun and return to ordinary living, exiting the Catholic convent.
For years, Sister Anupama resided in a convent based in Kuravilangad, which operates under the Latin Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar.
Together with a group of determined nuns, Sister Anupama fought in support of a fellow nun who accused Franco Mulakkal of multiple instances of rape.
“She renounced her nunhood and left the convent some time ago," a source within the church informed PTI.
The church has, however, remained tight-lipped about the specific details, such as the exact timing of her decision and what revolved around her sudden choice to resign.
Despite being in the spotlight due to her activism, Anupama has so far refrained from engaging with the media regarding her recent decision.
Contact with Anupama, a native of Alappuzha, and her family has been unsuccessful as they are not available for comment.
Previously, the victim nun accused Mulakkal of sexually assaulting her multiple times during his visits to the Kottayam convent between 2014 and 2016, during his tenure as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese in Punjab.
Remaining unseen, the victim's voice was mainly represented by Sister Anupama, who made media appearances and led public demonstrations, pushing for rigorous legal action against Mulakkal.
As a result, Anupama and the nuns who stood with her have maintained a confrontational stance against the church authorities.
Amid the allegations, Pope Francis temporarily relieved Mulakkal from his pastoral duties in 2018. Mulakkal formally resigned from the bishopric of Jalandhar in 2023.
In an earlier development, a court in Kerala acquitted him of the rape charges.
At present, according to church sources, Bishop Emeritus Franco Mulakkal is engaged in leading a prayer mission in Kottayam.
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