Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 12: In a press statement signed by personal relations officer (PRO) and spokesperson of the archdiocese of Bangalore, J A Kanthraj, the diocese has hit back at a notice sent to it in the name of Justice Michael F Saldanha (Retd) dated June 9.

"The notice issued on behalf of Justice Saldanha has been signed by some unidentified person. The notice with the heading, 'grave criminal misconduct' has alleged misappropriation of Rs 49.5 crore out of flood relief fund," the statement said. The diocese said that the allegation is totally wrong, baseless and far from the truth.

The archdiocese stated that the relief fund was collected by the archdiocese of Bangalore in coordination with the diocese of Mysore to rehabilitate the victims of the 2018 and 2019 floods and landslides in Kerala and Kodagu. The funds, mobilised by churches, institutions, religious congregations and generous donors, were meant mainly to build houses for hapless victims. One of the programmes planned was to invite Sonu Nigam for a live music concert, which eventually was cancelled," the diocese stated.

It said that the total amount collected by this archdiocese and diocese of Mysore for the flood victims was Rs 3.93 crore. The funds from the archdiocese of Bangalore was sent to the beneficiary dioceses through Caritas India New Delhi, it said. It has also been stated that Mysore diocese offered 4.10 acres of its land in Hadagere panchayat in Suntkolppa taluk, Kodagu district, for the construction of houses. The delay in construction caused by pending government clearance, which was received on May 16, 2020, the letter said by way of clarification.

The archdiocese of Bangalore, therefore, said that in the light of the above facts and many more, the baseless allegations made in the notice have been rejected.