Father Kuriakose Kattuthara
The family of Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, who was found dead in a room, on Wednesday alleged that he was harrased by rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal for backing nun. Father Kuriakose was a witness in the nun rape case.
In a complaint to the police, Kattuthara's brother Jose Kurian said his brother had often told him and other family members that he was being threatened by the bishop and his people.
In his complaint, Kurian also claimed his brother's salary was slashed and being released irregularly.
His brother's Bhogpur residence too was attacked the day he gave a statement against the Bishop to a police team from Kerala, he said.
The deceased priest's autopsy was conducted at Dasuya Civil Hospital Tuesday evening.
Bishop Franco Mulakkal is facing allegations of raping a nun.
In her complaint to the Kottayam police in June, the nun had alleged that Bishop Mulakkal had raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and later sexually exploited her on several occasions.
Mulakkal, however, has denied the charges as "baseless and concocted", insisting she levelled the allegations because the Catholic order had rejected her demands for favours.
( With inputs from PTI )
