Kottayam (Kerala) Mar 16 (IANS): A court here on Monday dismissed the discharge petition filed by former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of sexually assaulting a nun between 2014 and 2016.

This means that the bishop will now have to face trial in the case, which will begin very soon.

It was on January 7 that Mulakkal, who is on bail, filed the petition in the Kottayam additional district sessions court.

Mulakkal's ploy was to delay the trial and now with the lower court dismissing his discharge petition, it remains to be seen if he will approach a higher court.

Mulakkal, arrested on September 21, 2018 on rape charges, got bail on October 16, 2018. The Kerala Police has filed a 1,400-page charge sheet against him.

The charge sheet names 83 witnesses, including Cardinal of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Mar George Alencherry, three bishops, 11 priests and many nuns.

After the case came to light, Mulakkal was removed as head of the Jalandhar diocese.