Police probing the alleged rape of a nun by a Jalandhar-based Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church would leave for that city this week to interrogate the top priest. A team headed by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash would leave for Jalandhar on Friday, police said. State police Chief Loknath Behera would meet the investigation team ahead of their visit to interrogate Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar diocese in connection with the rape case. During their visit, the police will also try to gather more evidences from those connected with the case.

The decision to interrogate Mulakkal came as the team completed a detailed probe in Kerala regarding the allegations levelled against him. Police had earlier said that it will take action in the case "after they are fully convinced". Meanwhile, Kuravilangadu police have registered a case against a Catholic priest for allegedly trying to influence a key witness in the rape case. The police registered the case yesterday against Fr James Erthayil of the Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), an indigenous religious congregation in the Catholic Church of India, after an audio clipping of his conversation with a colleague nun of victim's congregation surfaced.