According to Matters India, the bishop says he was finishing lunch at his residence on March 7 when Palappallil sat next to him and immediately began to argue about the abuse case, which involves allegations from a married woman.
“I explained to him that I have nothing to do with the case as it is pending in Rome, being dealt with according to the procedure of Canon Law and I am not against him,” D’Souza said, according to Matters India.
The bishop says the priest then physically attacked him, hitting his face and neck, and knocking his glasses to the ground, before hitting his chest and raising a chair to strike him. He says another priest then stepped in to save him from the attack.
According to Matters India, Palappallil has denied the allegations, which he says are an attempt to discredit him for questioning the bishop.