Priest Murder Case: Two more priests take narco test
Police said there were five priests in the seminary the night Fr Thomas was murdered.
The Bangalore police subjected two priests, who were present at the Vatican-linked seminary on the night of April 1 2013 when Fr K J Thomas — a 64-year-old priest — was killed there, to narcoanalysis (truth serum) tests at forensic facilities in Ahmedabad.
After subjecting Fr Patrick Xavier, head of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, a key suspect in the murder, to the narco test last August, police have conducted the same last week on Fr Sebastian Perianna and Fr Lourdes Prasad. Police said results are awaited. Sources said the courts did not grant permission for tests for two other priests due to their age.
Police said there were five priests in the seminary the night Fr Thomas was murdered, contrary to initial reports saying only Fr Patrick Xavier was present. They had last year subjected Fr Xavier and two cooks — Raja and Reddy — to the truth serum test without finding any leads.
Last year, the Bangalore police had advised seminary authorities and the Archbishop in Bangalore to separate the priests who were present at the seminary.
(Courtesy: The Indian Express ,Bangalore | March 9, 2014)
More Indian priests undergo ‘truth serum’ tests in rector murder case
Police have conducted truth serum tests on two more Catholic priests from a southern Indian seminary, 11 months after its rector was found murdered.
Narco analysis tests were conducted Friday on Father Sebastian Periannan and Fr Lourdes Prasad, professors at St Peter’s Pontifical seminary in Bangalore, Karnataka state, the head of the police investigation told ucanews.com on Monday.
“It will take another 15-20 days for us to get the results,” said Pranab Mohanty, Additional Director of Crimes in Karnataka.
He said investigators have several theories as to why Father K J Thomas, 63, was bludgeoned to death on the night of March 31 and April 1 last year.
Police believe Fr Thomas knew his killer and was attacked when he answered a knock on his bedroom door.
In July the seminary procurator Fr Patrick Xavier was named as a suspect and underwent the same test.
Frustrated at the slow progress of the investigation, the murdered priest’s family has approached the state High Court, seeking a probe by the country’s top investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI).
“The court took up the case last Thursday and issued a notice seeking the state’s response to the petition,” said Siji Malayil, the family’s lawyer.
He said the court will now wait for the state to submit a progress report on the investigation before deciding if the case should go to the CBI.
Mohanty said he is not surprised by the demand for CBI to be brought in.
“It is a very difficult and sensitive case. We need to move cautiously and it is taking time,” he said.
(Courtesy: ucanews, March 11, 2014)
Activist asks Kannada priests not to drag language into rector murder case.
Bangalore:Warmly welcoming the arrests of the culprits involved in the murder of Fr K J Thomas, the Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore after midnight on March 31 last year, Social Activist and Anti-Corruption Crusader T J Abraham has asked the Kannada Catholic priests not to drag the bogey of the so-called language controversy created by them regarding the use of Kannada in the liturgy in the Archdiocese of Bangalore to further their selfish and narrow interests.
Abraham, who was joined by the Catholic Minorities Association leader Johnson and office-bearers of the Rajajinagar Konkani Catholic Welfare Association Edwin D’Souza, Richard D’Souza and Dolphy D’Cunha, addressed a press conference in Bangalore and declared that they were ”happy, appreciative and thankful that the Police have at least now primarily caught/found the ones suspected to be the accused involved in the crime of eliminating Fr K J Thomas.”
They said the police authorities ”have done an excellent job in reaching the stage of arresting the suspected persons and hope they would go further investigate the case to reach its finality. We do not believe the Home Minister or Our Archishop have any ulterior motive behind delaying or speeding up of the investigation of the case in any manner.
However, now that the Priests Association (Balaga) has expressed doubts and are demanding a CBI investigation, Abraham said: ”we also agree to their demand and welcome a CBI investigation into the case. Let the actual truth come out. Let the world know who is behind the brutal murder of Fr K J Thomas. This is our basic demand. Let the world know the truth.”
They expressed their shock that some people, who are unfortunately still priests, had come together under the banner of Karnataka Kannada Priests Association (Balaga) and have publicly criticized the Police action of arresting the suspects (priests)” and have shamefully claimed that the arrested trio, including two priests William Patrick and Elias and their lay assistant Peter as ”innocent.”
”It is shocking to note their statement that those priests presently arrested are innocent and not involved in the crime. We condemn their statement that those who have been arrested have been framed by the police at the behest of the Archbishop and the Home Minister just because they are Kannadigas,” they said.
”Credibility, Honesty of Priests Suspect”
Abraham and other leaders questioned the credibility, sincerity and honesty of the key leaders of the Balaga, including priests Fr Ckalkere Chowrappa Selveraj (Chasara), Parish Priest of St Joseph”s church in Chamrajpet, Fr A Thomas, Parish Priest of Kristha Karunalaya Church, Jaraganahalli, Kanakapura Road, and also the Principal/trustee of Christ School, Marianapalya Road, Kaglipura run by Carmel Seva Sangam Trust, Mariapura and Fr S Barthalomew,Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Tumkur.
”If they (these priests) are sure that those who have been presently apprehended are not involved, the question is who else is involved?,” Abraham asked and said: ”If these priests/people are absolutely sure that those who are arrested are innocent, then they should surely know who is actually involved.”
They demanded that the police should subject all those persons, who addressed or attended the press conference, to a thorough investigation to find out the truth and whether they themselves were involved or if they actually know who else is involved in the brutal killing of Fr K J Thomas.
It is a shame that these so-called Kannada Catholic Yajakara Balaga priests, who are originally from Andhra Pradesh and speak Telugu in their homes, are the ones who are misguiding and disturbing the peace in the Catholic Church in the name of protecting Kannada. These are the very people who also oppose a language that has originated and is used by people actually born in Karnataka, Konkani, a native language of the State.
”If these are people who have real concerns regarding Karnataka how can they oppose Konkani, an undisputed language of the people belonging to and born in Karnataka?,” they asked.
”If these priests’ association (Balaga) members are true Kannada loving people, how can they enter a Church, when a Kannada Mass is being celebrated and physically attack a Kannadiga priest? Are they really Catholics? Will any true Catholic enter the altar during Mass and attack the celebrant?,” they asked.
”We humbly hope and request these Catholic priests, if they want to form any associations for their personal purposes, let them first relinquish their priesthood (remove the holy dress/attire they are wearing) before behaving in a manner unbecoming of any Catholic Priest,” they said.
Source of Foreign Funding Must Be Probed
Abraham claimed that ”it is in public knowledge that the Carmel Seva Sangam Trust, which is run by the President of the Catholic Karnataka Kannada Priests Association (Balaga) Fr A Thomas, receives funds from foreign agencies such as FODERVEREIN BEDEN and ANNAPURNA FOUNDATION, Germany.”
”What is interesting is that this funding agency is, according to sources, a recipient of funds from amongst others, Billy Graham Evangelist Association, P O Box.1270, Charlote, 28201, 1270 USA (having an Indian Bank Account No.911010024922852 in Axis Bank, Sahakaranagar Branch) and LIVING WORD FELLOWSHIP. 512, Beach Pond Road, Voluntown, CT 06381, Box, 36, USA, who directly takes care of AGAPE Ministries India (having an Indian Bank Account No.15334 in Canara Bank, D’costa Square, Branch) and also PARTNER IN ASIAN MISSION, Box 531011, Birmingham, AL-35253, USA financing AGAPE Bible Fellowship(having an Indian Bank Account No 21638 in Canara Bank, D’costa Square, Branch),” he said.
The most shocking/coincidental aspect, according to Abrahm, is that the purpose of all these funding agencies in sending money was ”Maintenance of Priests/other religious functionaries.”
”Crores and crores of rupees are flowing for the maintenance of Priests. Which Priests?,” he asked and wondered if the priests were indeed ”The Priests of the Catholic Karnataka Kannada Priests Association (Balaga)?”
He demanded that all these things also require a thorough investigation by our investigation agencies for the public to know the truth, and alleged that the ”money received by the Carmel Seva Sangam Trust, which is run by Fr A Thomas, from a foreign agency called FODERVEREIN BEDEN, and ANNAPURNA FOUNDATION, Germany is meant for the purpose of “Education/Schools for the mentally challenged.”
”The usage of the foreign funds for any purpose other than what it was got/sent would amount to a violation under 3.6.1 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010(FCRA 2010) earlier Act of 1976 (FCRA 1976). We have already complained to the concerned authorities in this regard for a thorough investigation and necessary legal action,” he claimed.
”Deliberate Attempt to Misguide People”
These priests leading the Kannada Catholicara Yajakara Balaga, Abraham said were creating an impression that they are the champions of the cause of Kannada and allege that the so-called Anti-Kannadigas are trying to suppress the demands of Kannada speaking Catholics in Karnataka.
”This is absolutely false and fabricated, only to misguide and fool the Kannada speaking Catholics in Karnataka and make Catholics in Karnataka feel frustrated and disgusted with the Catholic Church itself,” Abraham contended.
Abraham and his supporters contended that they were not opposed to some Kannada speaking Catholics coming together to form an association (Balaga). But it is most shameful to note that priests are coming together to form a Balaga to protest and protect their own grievances/demands or and also to protect suspected criminals/killers of a widely respected and scholarly, Catholic priest.
”We have seen Lingayat or Vokkaliga Swamyjis coming out in public for the cause of their people/communities. But, we have never seen any group of Swamijis airing their personal grievances/demands in the manner in which the Catholic priests have done and their acts of abuses against the Archbishop. The act of these Catholic priests is most condemnable and shameful to the entire community,” they said.
Threat to Expose Sleazy Activities
Abraham threatened to divulge more details of the ”activities of some of the Priests, who have been charged with rape and/or also the pleasure trips of priests in the comfortable company of women to famous holidaying destinations in the near future. We want to expose them and disclose their true nature even while continuing as priests. Can they continue as priests?”
Abraham said, ”We have reliably learnt that it is a conspiracy to intentionally create an unhealthy atmosphere in the Catholic Church and also to divert the attention away from the actual issue only to save the culprits (guilty of murdering Fr K J Thomas).”
Abraham has led several agitations against alleged corrupt deals involving politicians and also against Bangalore-Mysore Nandi Infrastructure Corridor chief Ashok Keny and was also involved in the protests against the Congress-led UPA regime’s move at the behest of the Union minister K R Rehman to name the proposed Central university for minorities in Mysore after Tippu Sultan besides filing Public Interest Litigations against several scams in the High Court.
(Date: April 2014)
Bangalore: Archbishop Moras, Carmelite Provincial meet arrested priests in jail
Bangalore: Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras, who has just returned from Rome after attending the Eighth Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for Health at the Vatican, took time off from his busy schedule to visit the Parappanaagrahara Central Jail on Saturday morning to meet the Bangalore Archdiocesan priest Fr William Patrick, who had been recently arrested by the Bangalore police, in connection with the brutal murder of the Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary at Malleswaram last year.
Fr William Patrick, who was serving as the Parish Priest of the Kengeri Church, another Carmelite priest Fr Elias Daniel and their accomplice Peter, had been arrested by the Bangalore city police on March 21 in connection with the ghastly murder of the 62-year-old Rector of the Seminary, Fr K J Thomas, on the night of March 31-April 1 last year, and have been subsequently remanded to police custody.
Fr Elias Daniel belonged to the Religious Order of Carmelities and had also served as the Councilor of the Provincialate.
The Archbishop has issued an official circular letter to all priests, brothers, sisters and lay faithful late in the evening after holding a meeting of the Archdiocesan College of Consultors meeting in the evening with the information that he along with the Karnataka Provincial of the Order of Decalced Carmelites (OCD) Fr Archibald Gonsalves and three of his priests had visited the Central Jail in the morning to meet the arrested priests.
” We were as much sad and pained as they were. It is really unfortunate that they are there,” the Archbishop said in his circular letter and explained that, ”The main purpose of writing this letter is to appeal to all concerned priests, religious and lay faithful to keep calm and to pray earnestly that all involved in the murder of Fr K J Thomas are nabbed and punished.”
”No innocent persons in any way are to be harmed or to be punished. I want the truth to come out in the interest of the Church, the Seminary and the Archdiocese. Let the truth prevail and set us free,” the Archbishop said.
Pastoral Consultation on Apr 10 Cancelled
The Archbishop also announced that the College of Consultors felt that the Pastoral Consultation scheduled to be held on April 10 be cancelled ”as the present atmosphere is not conducive to hold the Pastoral Consultation.” However, he said the Chrism Mass scheduled to be held on that will be celebrated at the St Francis Xavier Cathedral at 5 pm.
”In this Year of Reconciliation, as we come closer to the Holy Week. may the Passion and Death of our Lord strengthen all of us and may the Peace of Christ reign in the hearts of all and in the Archdiocese of Bangalore,” Archbishop said appealing ”all the parish priests, heads of religious communities and institutions, and the faithful to hold special prayers, Eucharistic adoration, Rosary recitation and do acts of charity that the Good Lord may help the truth to come to light at the earliest, and also help us experience peace and harmony in the Archdiocese.”
”Let the truth triumph,” the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop also said that, ”I am accused by a section of priests and the faithful that the Archbishop used his influence to arrest these priests, and that he is trying to take revenge on those who are fighting for the Kannada cause,” and clarified that, ”It is totally false and baseless.”
”As announced earlier in my circular, I was away in Rome from March 23 onwards and returned to Bangalore only on April 4 morning. Today April 5, along with Fr Archibald Gonsalves, Provincial Superior of the Carmelites and three of his priests, I visited the central jail and met Fr William Patrick and Fr Elias. We were as much sad and pained as they were. It is really unfortunate that they are there,” he said and pointed out that, ”All of us have been praying, not only for the repose of the soul Fr K J Thomas, but also that the perpetrators of the murder of Fr K J Thomas may be nabbed and truth may come to light.”
”Besides the Board of Bishops of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, there have been demands from the family of Fr K J Thomas and the public to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and to the Police Department, to speed up the investigation and to nab the culprits, as the murder of Fr K J Thomas has wide implications, not only on the local church, but also on the universal Church and the community at large,” he said pointing out that it was ”The investigation team called back Fr William Patrick, who was on pilgrimage, for investigation. The investigation team held a Press Conference on 21.03.2014 and announced the action it has taken by arresting the two priests and a lay man to conduct further investigation.”
Visit to Rome Fixed in Nov 2013, Vatican Decided Shimoga Bishop
The Archbishop further disclosed that his visit to Rome to attend the Pastoral Health Care Meeting was decided as early as in November 2013, when the meeting was fixed and that the air ticket was booked months ago. ”It was wrong to connect my recent going to Rome and the events that took place subsequently,” he said also explained that ”the announcement of the new Bishop of Shimoga on March 19 is a coincidence. The date for such announcement is fixed by Rome and not by anyone else.”
He further said ”There was also an accusation against me that I have sent a large section of priests on a pilgrimage by spending lakhs of rupees to win them over on my side. The request came from the priests themselves to give them a Diamond Jubilee gift by organizing a Pilgrimage to the places of St Paul’s missionary journey. This proposal was discussed and approved at the College of Consultors’ Meeting held on November 18, 2013, and a team comprising of Msgr C Francis, Very Rev Fr A S Anthony Swamy and Very Rev Fr Edward David was constituted to arrange this pilgrimage for the Archdiocesan priests in two batches.”
”I am also accused, at times, by some sections of people (priests and faithful) that I have handed over to the police investigation team the letters written to St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary or to me. When the investigation team asks for such letters and correspondence, I don’t think any one has any choice except to provide them with all information and correspondence to facilitate the investigation,” he said.
Archbishop, Provincial had Applied for Bail to Arrested Priests
It may be recalled that the Archbishop had taken steps to apply for bail for the arrested priest of the Bangalore Archdiocese by engaging a lawyer of the Archdiocese. The Carmelites Religious Order had also engaged a lawyer to apply for bail for its arrested member. However, the bail plea was rejected.
”The priest belongs to the Bangalore Archdiocese. It is my duty as the Archbishop and shepherd of the Archdiocese to take steps to protect my flock,” Archbishop Moras had said, making it clear that, ”As Chairman of the Governing Board of the St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary to urge the law enforcement authorities to investigate the cold-blooded murder of the Rector and see that those guilty of the heinous crime are brought to book. But at the same, I am firm in my conviction and belief that innocent persons should not be punished.”
”However, the investigation into the murder of the Rector is entirely the responsibility of the police,” he had said pointing out that he had met the State’s Director General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachau as well as the Governor H R Bhardwaj besides taking up the issue of expediting the investigation with Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George on different occasions.
The Archbishop of Bangalore had asserted that he was deeply worried and perturbed by the gruesome murder of a scholarly and mild-mannered priest like Fr K J Thomas, who had endeared himself to his fellow-priests and seminarians due to his erudition, inside the seminary campus as he was repeatedly being asked by persons in authority in the church and the faithful as well as other Bishops, Priests and religious sisters.
Though the Catholic faithful and many organizations had been holding candle-light vigil and other pressure tactics to urge the Bangalore City Police and the State Government to expedite the investigation into the murder of the Rector inside the seminary campus itself, which is less than a kilometer away from the Yeshwanthpur police station, bus and railway stations, the family members of the deceased Fr K J Thomas had filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking a CBI probe into the murder.
According to informed sources, the Kannada Catholic Yajakara Balaga, which had recently organized a press conference to claim that the arrested trio, including two priests, were ”completely innocent” and that the arrests was part of the conspiracy hatched by the Archbishop and Home Minister K J George to nail the Kannada Catholic priests, have planned dharna and other demonstrations before the Archbishop’s House on Sunday and also during the Pastoral visit of the Archbishop to Varthur to participate in a pre-arranged programme.
It is, however, not clear whether the planned demonstration would actually take place as there is tight security at the Archbishop’s House.
The Kannada Catholic Yajakara Balaga had also demanded a CBI probe into the murder.
Full Text of the Archbishop’s Circular:
”Development regarding the murder of Fr K J Thomas, the former Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary:
At the College of Consulters Meeting held on April 5, 2014 at 4 pm, it was decided that I send the following information and clarification regarding the recent developments after the brutal murder of Fr K J Thomas, the former Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore.
A year has passed by after the murder of Fr K J Thomas on April 1, 2013. All of us have been praying, not only for the repose of the soul Fr K.J. Thomas, but also that the perpetrators of the murder of Fr K J Thomas may be nabbed and truth may come to light.
On the day of the murder, the then Police Commissioner had announced of setting up a few police teams for the investigations. From then on, they have been intensely doing their job to find out the various reasons and causes for the murder.
Besides the Board of Bishops of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, there have been demands from the family of Fr K J Thomas and the public to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and to the Police Department, to speed up the investigation and to nab the culprits, as the murder of Fr K J Thomas has wide implications, not only on the local church, but also on the universal Church and the community at large.
The investigation team called back Fr William Patrick, who was on pilgrimage, for investigation. The investigation team held a Press Conference on 21.03.2014 and announced the action it has taken by arresting the two priests and a lay man to conduct further investigation.
As announced earlier in my circular, I was away in Rome from March 23 onwards and returned to Bangalore only on April 4 morning. Today, April 5, along with Fr Archibald Gonsalves, Provincial Superior of the Carmelites and three of his priests, I visited the central jail and met Fr William Patrick and Fr Elias. We were as much sad and pained as they were. It is really unfortunate that they are there.
I am accused by a section of priests and the faithful that the Archbishop used his influence to arrest these priests, and that he is trying to take revenge on those who are fighting for the Kannada cause. It is totally false and baseless.
Here, I would like to make it clear to all concerned, specially priests, religious and lay faithful, that, as Chairman of the Board of Bishops, I have been demanding a speedy investigation of the murder of Fr K J Thomas. In no way I am involved directly or indirectly in the arrest of any one, much less the priests. I will never want, at any time, that any innocent person to be punished. I am prepared to suffer rather than take revenge. May the Lord judge those who accuse me falsely and baselessly, and mislead the innocent faithful and the general public.
My going to Rome for the Pastoral Health Care Meeting was decided in November 2013, when the meeting was fixed. My ticket was booked months ago. It was wrong to connect my recent going to Rome and the events that took place subsequently.
Similarly, the announcement of the new Bishop of Shimoga on March 19 is a coincidence. The date for such announcement is fixed by Rome and not by anyone else.
There was also an accusation against me that I have sent a large section of priests on a pilgrimage by spending lakhs of rupees to win them over on my side. The request came from the priests themselves to give them a Diamond Jubilee gift by organizing a Pilgrimage to the places of St Paul’s missionary journey. This proposal was discussed and approved at the College of Consultors’ Meeting held on November 18, 2013, and a team comprising of Msgr C Francis, Very Rev Fr A S Anthony Swamy and Very Rev Fr Edward David was constituted to arrange this pilgrimage for the Archdiocesan priests in two batches.
I am also accused, at times, by some sections of people (priests and faithful) that I have handed over to the police investigation team the letters written to St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary or to me. When the investigation team asks for such letters and correspondence, I don’t think any one has any choice except to provide them with all information and correspondence to facilitate the investigation.
The main purpose of writing this letter is to appeal to all concerned priests, religious and lay faithful to keep calm and to pray earnestly that all involved in the murder of Fr K J Thomas are nabbed and punished. No innocent persons in any way are to be harmed or to be punished. I want the truth to come out in the interest of the Church, the Seminary and the Archdiocese. Let the truth prevail and set us free.
In this Year of Reconciliation, as we come closer to the Holy Week may the Passion and Death of our Lord strengthen all of us, and may the Peace of Christ reign in the hearts of all and in the Archdiocese of Bangalore.
At today’s meeting of the College of Consultors, the members also felt that, as the present atmosphere is not conducive to hold the Pastoral Consultation, it could be cancelled. Hence, the scheduled Pastoral Consultation to be held on April 10 is hereby cancelled. However, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral at 5 pm
May I appeal all the parish priests, heads of religious communities and institutions, and the faithful to hold special prayers, Eucharistic adoration, Rosary recitation and do acts of charity that the Good Lord may help the truth to come to light at the earliest, and also help us experience peace and harmony in the Archdiocese. Let the truth triumph.
With every good wish and God’s blessings,
Yours sincerely,
Bernard Moras
Archbishop of Bangalore
(Date:4th April 2014)