Daijiworld Media Network – Chikkamagaluru
Chikkamagaluru, Aug 29: A case was registered against Bishop of Chikkamagaluru diocese Dr T Anthony Swamy and diocese priest Fr A Shantharaj for allegedly attempting to sell a land reserved to build hostel for St Joseph’s Boys High School. The land belongs to St Joseph’s Educational Society. Dr T Anthony Swamy is the president of the society and Fr Shantharaj was the vice-president.
Earlier Christian community members of 46 churches of the diocese had demanded probe for alleged irregularities regarding lands pertaining to St Joseph Educational Society.
Now the case was registered in Chikkamagaluru town police station under the instructions from the court.
The complaint says that wrong information was given to competent land authorities to sell the land by producing incorrect documents. The case has been registered under IPC 34 and 406.
The complaint says that the society was registered under Societies Act to provide education to the marginalized.
Michael Baptist, who held the press meet here on Thursday, August 29, informed that the he is also the member of the Society and he was not taken into confidence in any matter regarding the sale. He informed that apart from president and vice-president there are other 6 members who were kept in the dark regarding sale attempts.
The 20 guntas land was donated by F G H Fernandes in 1984 for the purpose of building a hostel for the students.
An attempt was also made to sell another 20 guntas of land standing in the name of St Joseph’s Boys High School. The market value of these both lands stands at around Rs 18 crore.
Michael Baptist has mentioned in the complaint that as per church laws any land worth above Rs 1 crore cannot be sold without consent from Pope.
Michael alleged that when the bishop and the priest do not have any right to sell or negotiate to sell any land without the consent of all the members of the society, they took Rs 40 lacs advance which was illegal as well as unethical. He said that other 6 members stopped the deal and the illegal transfer was averted.
Along with Michael S Baptist , the parishioners Stany D Silva, Hezine Quardros, Nelson D Silva and Sylvester Saldana were present at the press meet.