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Mangalore: Former CSI bishop Devaraj Bangera sentenced to three years in jail

  •   Wed, Mar 20 2013 12:19:55 AM

Mangalore: Former CSI bishop Devaraj Bangera sentenced to three years in jail

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, Mar 20: Devaraj Bangera, former bishop of Church of South India (CSI) Karnataka Southern Diocese, has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment by the second additional chief judicial magistrate (CJM) for forging documents.

The verdict was pronounced by judge Bhavya on Tuesday March 19.

When he was the bishop, Devaraj Bangera was accused of forging documents to claim that he was born on June 29, 1945 instead of 1944. He had produced birth certificate from the Kasargod municipality, but the Protestant Christians Association claimed that the certificate was forged.

The Association had then filed for information under RTI, which revealed that his date of birth in his SSLC certificate was June 29, 1944, and that there was no record under his name in the Kasargod municipality.

In this regard, a case filed on November 30, 2008 in Mangalore east police station by Udaychandra Kaundsa of Bejai, a leader of the Protestant Christians Association.

Uday said that the former bishop had deliberately changed his year of birth so that he could remain one more year as bishop. As per the CSI norms, a bishop has to superannuate from his post on turning 65 years. On June 29, 2009, the members of the Association had even staged a protest demanding that he step down from the post, as he turned 65 that day. Devaraj Bangera had then retired but filed a petition in the court stating that he was born in 1945 and therefore had another year as bishop, but the court had dismissed the plea.

Uday said that the records in Udupi Christian School where Bangera had studied also showed his year of birth as 1944, but Bangera had claimed with CSI Madras that he was born in 1945.

Bangera had taken charge as the bishop of CSI on October 9, 2004.

Apart from allegations of forgery, the former bishop had also faced charges of indulging in financial irregularities and selling off CSI property to a foreign company, and becoming increasingly inaccessible to people.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Blaan Mendonca, USA

    Sat, Mar 23 2013

    School Certificate date of birth are always not correct. The person who feeds the data into the computer does so many errors and there are so many cases to prove. We cannot go according to the School Certificate date of birth. I have seen people who have different date of birth in their passport which are different from their original birth certificate. People who are born before the Independence do not have any date of birth records and people who were born before the formation of Mangalore Corporation do not have a record in the corporation office. People who were born at home do not have a birth certificate as they do not have a hospital document from the doctor to prove that this particular person was born on this day or date or year at this particular time. So it is difficult to prove with this type of system.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi Kotian, Padubidri

    Thu, Mar 21 2013

    Shocking news. How can a " person of God " do this ? Of late many such persons of different religions have been acting like this. " ALL IN THE NAME OF GOD ".

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Akash Kudroli, Mangalore

    Thu, Mar 21 2013

    It is very hard to defend a ‘convicted criminal’. However as I see it, Natural justice has already been served, due to the fact that the CSI Synod, having taken due cognisance of the case, had terminated the services of Bishop Bangera much earlier than the present judgement. This jail term would have been justified had Bishop Bangera held on to his office. This is definitely not the case. Therefore, he has every right of appeal to contend that the term be minimised or a nominal fine be imposed since the principles of natural justice has already been served.

    Corruption in the Church in any form is unacceptable. However, a jail term seems unjustified as the ‘quantum of punishment’ has already been served by the CSI Synod. Therefore, the appeal by Bishop Bangera in the higher courts is thoroughly justified.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • MS Sheik, Mangalore/Dubai

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Very sad news.I feel the quantum of punishment can be reduced looking at hi past good records.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ken, Mlore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    It is indeed very sad when people in power misuse the assets which are the property of religious institutions for their own gains. As it is mentioned and as Dr S. Kamath has pointed out, the Bishop did try to misuse his powers to dispose off properties belonging to the Diocese in Mysore. Few would even say that he was following someone's footsteps. The reason is earlier the protestant community used to keep quiet under such circumstances, and had the belief that the Lord God would punish them as per the scriptures and they were just sitting there as silent spectators, wondering, waiting and watching when God would strike them down, for misusing the powers bestowed on them for being the Bishops. However, things have changed now, as there are lot of individuals who do raise their voice and give their opinions in the interest of the church and the community, which is a positive sign. Mr. Uday is doing his best to bring back the past glory of the protestant community, but perhaps is not getting the right backing and support to go all out. Just look around you, most of the prime properties in Mangalore, which are owned by the protestants are at the mercy of others, and some are being sold without even having Diocese approvals. The community instead of being able to use these assets to help the underprivileged in their society, are left to run after court cases because of the difference in opinion between Basel Mission and the Church of South India, wherein meanwhile every tom, dick and harry are enjoying the property belonging to protestants by either paying a fee, which was in 1960's or perhaps nothing at all. I would request the protestant community to join hands together, leave their differences aside (BM & CSI) and work towards the betterment of the protestant community as a whole. There is a famous Kannada saying, yeradu mangagala jagaladalli, moorney manganige paal sikithu. The choice is ours, let us make it worth its while for the generations to come. God Bless.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'Lore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    I regret writing the 'Tip Top' rejoinder in anger and offer my sincere apologies to Mr. Anand, Mumbai.He and a Miss Rovina from Mumbai however were trying to get under my skin. I allowed them to succeed.Not any more.Now-End of Story..Rovina,Dear Rovina if you are really there please respond. I apologise to you too.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'Lore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    What Tip Top Tip Top?
    Why agree to an absolute Flop...
    Better eat a Lollipop
    Before you ......
    Time starts now..Tick Tock Tick Tock.....

    DisAgree [5] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore / Kwt

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    A deeply regrettable incident! This was unexpected from a man of religion. Those who preach virtues do not practise.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'Lore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    To those who disagree...
    Have I damaged or spoilt your 'Crop'?

    DisAgree [9] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    I must agree with Naveen Frank. CSI protestents are fine human beings harmless and mostly non controversial. They do have some internal ongoing issue on church property!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'Lore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Former Bishop
    Not ready to shut Shop
    Giving it a 'One More Hop'...
    Wonder where will this Stop?
    Only one to know...God on Top....

    DisAgree [15] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Mumbai

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Respected Bhandarkar Sir,
    Here it continues....
    Tip Top Tip Top Tip Top

    DisAgree [6] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen Frank, Sharjah/Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    I hold with high regard, the peace-loving CSI Community of Mangalore and their present Bishop Rev Dr Sadanand. It is a pity even the best can have the worst among them. This isolated incident involving just one person in no way must demean the wonderful CSI community at large that we so beautifully co-exist with.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [74] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Whoever does forgery is punishable as per IPC.,
    A priest, a pastor, a bishop, a layman is answerable to God also. I hope the court has sufficient proof for forgery.
    The time has come to check all daliths Caste certificates employed on reservations who have availed government jobs by forging caste certificates.

    Plenty of employees will be available all over India by availing forged caste certificates.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [69] Reply Report Abuse

  • essell, mangalore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    If someone forges the signature of the senior citizen and convert the land how to proceed can anyone guide?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bangalore

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Common people do mistakes,forgery.But a CSI Bishop indulged in such criminal activity ...unbelieveble!
    Effect of Ghora Kaliyug...

    DisAgree [14] Agree [73] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr S kamath , Mumbai

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Dear Ismail Forging documents alone was not the fault read the last Paragraph .Forging for usurping large amount of Public money is surely an offense .Any way he may appeal to Higher Courts and I am sure may get some relief

    DisAgree [19] Agree [59] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Mangalore, Dubai

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Dear S kamath,

    Ismail is correct in his observation. As per this article, The Bishop has been sentenced to 3 years for forgery of document. You are mixing up the last paragraph which are allegation charges against him. Now, the courts don't sentence a person on allegations alone or do they?? Which means ,if these allegations are proven then the sentence can be a longer one.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [72] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Wed, Mar 20 2013

    Unprecedented and very very strange case!!!He was sentenced for forging birth certificate to remain as BISHOP OF CSI!!!For one year of inflated age he got 3 three years in Jail !!!Believe it or not but true!!!

    DisAgree [18] Agree [137] Reply Report Abuse


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