Minister accused of delaying rector’s murder case
Rector Father K. J. Thomas was found murdered at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore on the morning of April 1, 2013.
News UCAN:- Christian leaders have accused Bengaluru development minister K J George of "deliberately delaying" filing of additional charge-sheet in the murder investigation of Fr. K J Thomas, the former Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary.
"It has become more than evident that the submission of the Additional Charge Sheet in the murder case was deliberately delayed for over 2 years, when K J George was the Home Minister at his behest," T J Abraham, Chairman of Indian Christians United Forum, said at a press conference in Bengaluru Jan 13.
"We welcome and appreciate the prompt submission of the over 20,000 pages Additional Charge Sheet immediately after the present Home Minister G Parameshwara took over as the Home Minister of the State," he said. Parameshwara succeeded George as home minister.
He was accompanied by Aida Margaret D’Cunha, Secretary and Sylvian Noronha, Vice President of Indian Christians United Forum, Edwin D’Souza, Secretary, Karnataka Sarvabhasha Catholikara Okkoota, Dolphy D’Cunha, Vice Chairman, Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations, Karnataka and Richard D’Souza, Secretary of Carmel Kutam.
The Christian leaders said though the court had issued a non-bailable warrant on December 28 against Fr. Anhu John, Fr. A Thomas, Fr. C Selvaraj alias Chasara, Fr. I Anthappa, Raphael Raj, Rita Rini and B A Anthony Prasad based on the additional charge-sheet, the Yeshwanthpur police had not acted so far and the accused were moving around freely without any fear at all.
They claimed that the matter was officially brought to the notice of the commissioner of police on Jan. 6 and the same was also officially brought to the notice of the concerned DCP, ACP and the station inspector and yet till date there has been no action in this regard.
They suspected that the police are not arresting the accused persons even though the court has issued a non-bailable warrant on Dec. 28 because they have also allegedly received a part of the foreign funds.
"We demand that the Yeshwanthapura police immediately arrest these Accused Persons as per the provisions of law in the interest of justice," Abraham said.
The Christian leaders also urged the Archbishop of Bengaluru to immediately suspend and remove priests accused of the murder.
