Bangalore: Retired Karnataka High Court Judge Michael Francis Saldanha has claimed that former rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal has been not arrested money and political ties. Saldanha also said that it has now become a national issue and 60,000 women from Kerala alone have raised the issue of sexual harassment. Talking to the media, he said that it was only in 2018 that Sister Lucy had informed him that many nuns in Kerala were raising the issue that even after the criminal case against the then Bishop Mulakkal came to light in the investigation, he was neither arrested nor trial started.

Retired Judge Saldanha said that then there was only one demand that if anyone involved in serious sexual harassment should be taken against him under appropriate law. He made a serious claim on the basis of the survey saying that 60,000 nuns from Kerala alone and many others across the country have raised their voices about their sexual harassment. Saldanha said that after the survey, the issue is no longer only from Kerala, but has now become a national issue. During the discussion, Saldanha also criticised the Franciscan Clarist Congress (FCC) for dismissing Sister Lucy as a nun for protesting against rape accused Franco Mulakkal.

The Vatican had recently rejected the third petition filed by expelled Sister Lucy Kalpura. At the same time, the Franciscan Clarist Congress of Ernakulam had also ordered Kalpura to vacate the convent. Kalpura had sought quashing of his expulsion in the petition. In fact, kalpura was stripped of her nun's degree two years ago after opposing former rape accused Franco Mulakkal. However, retired Karnataka High Court Judge Saldanha has decided to join Sister Lucy in her legal battle.

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