Kochi, October 15: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted bail to Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was arrested in September on charges of raping a nun repeatedly between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop secured the bail with strict conditions that he should not enter Kerala. He must also surrender his passport and should appear before the police once every two weeks.

Mulakkal was arrested on September 21 after three days of questioning. On September 24, he was sent to two weeks judicial custody. Mulakkal has been languishing in the Pala sub-jail since. Franco Mulakkal Temporarily Removed From Post of Bishop by Pope Francis.

Earlier on October 3, the high court had denied the bishop bail as Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan observed that there was evidence against him. Mulakkal, who heads the Roman Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar in Punjab, is the first bishop in the country to be jailed for rape.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2018 11:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).