Jailed priest in Rector’s murder case gets bail from SC


From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 30: One of the two priests accused and sent to jail in the murder of Fr K J Thomas, the then Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bengaluru, in the small hours of Easter night on April 1 in 2013, Fr William Patrick has been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Fr William Patrick, who was the Parish Priest of St Francis Church, Kengeri, was arrested along with Carmelite priest Fr Elias Daniel, who was working in Gulbarga, and a lay person Carmel Peter in the year 2014 and all three accused persons were arrested and sent to jail at Parappana Agrahara.

The city police had charge-sheeted five persons, including two who have been simply identified as Swamy and Francis, and were absconding in the year 2014.


Fr K J Thomas

All the three accused and arrested persons had applied for bail from the Principal City Civil and Sessions Court and subsequently approached the High Court and all the attempts in securing the bail from the courts had failed.

SC Grants Bail

Fr William Patrick had filed a special leave petition seeking bail in the Supreme Court and the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Thirath Singh Thakur, had in his order of July 25, has set aside the Karnataka High Court order denying bail and allowing the appeal directed the Principal City Civil and Sessions Court to grant bail to the appellant-accused (Fr William Patrick) by ``imposing such conditions as it may deem fit.’’

"Having considered the facts of the case the period of custody suffered and the fact that the trial is yet to begin,’’ the Supreme Court Chief Justice of India held that the ``Accused-appellant (Fr William Patrick) be released on bail.’’

Total 12 accused, 6 priests

It may be recalled that the police had filed an additional charge-sheet against seven persons, including four priests - Frs I –Anthappa, A Thomas, Chowrappa Selvaraj @ Chasara and Anbu John – and three others at the end of last year. The other three persons were Ms Rita Rini, Raphael Raj and Anthony Prasad.

With the filing of the second charge-sheet, the total number of persons accused in the murder of Fr K J Thomas went up to 12, including six priests. Of these, Fr I Anthappa had been granted bail on a surety of Rs 2 lakh in view of his old age of 86 and Fr Chowrappa Selvaraj @ Chasara died recently.

However, the State High Court had recently granted bail to all the other accused persons named in the second charge-sheet.

Restrictions Imposed

Even as the Principal City Civil and Sessions Court’s orders on bail have not been issued and whether Fr William Patrick has been released or not is not known, the Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras has taken note of the fact that Fr William Patrick has secured bail from the Supreme Court on July 25.

In a communication to Fr William Patrick, the Archbishop has issued a three-point specific directive on the basis of the specific direction from His Eminence Cardinal Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the following three-point restrictions shall be imposed "in the event of granting bail until the final sentence."

1. You should not exercise any kind of pastoral ministry.
2. You should not celebrate the Holy Mass in Public.
3. You should lead a retired life.

Stipend, Medical & Lodging Expenses

The Archbishop, in his communication to Fr William Patrick, has also issued the following direction:

"I am directing you to stay at any Retreat Centre inside or outside the Archdiocese or at your own home. You have to obtain the written consent of the Superior of the place of your stay and send me a copy of the letter duly signed by him. You are also asked to send me in writing the address of your stay, your contact telephone or mobile number and email ID for any communication.

"May I inform you that your congrua (monthly stipend) will be paid every month by the Archdiocesan Finance Office to your account, and your medical expenses will also be taken care of by the Archdiocese as per the existing Archdiocesan Norms. In case, you opt to stay in a Retreat Centre, the lodging expenses will also be paid by the Archdiocese.

"I look forward to revoking the above restrictions as soon as the reasons for its imposition ceases so that we can together repair the damage done to the image of the Church and get you back to active ministry."

"I am praying for you at this difficult moment that you may experience God’s healing touch," said the communication sent by the Archbishop.

  

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Comment on this article

  • stan, udupi/dubai

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    No body can escape from the eyes of God. Being a priest if he has committed a crime then he has to accept in the court of law, as getting punished here and repenting here is much better than loosing soul for eternity.

    DisAgree Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Courts need to work overtime till 7pm to give justice to maximum number of people. Also set time frame. Adjournment is not a solution.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • k b rao, Mangluru

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    It is nice to hear that the accused priests have been released on bail. this murder case has been centred on language issues and not on investigative angle. Impartial investigation without language prejudice is required to find out the truth behind a very senior religious functionary's unnantural death.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues., Frazer Town,Bangalore

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Jailed priest gets the bail from the Supreme Court and nothing comment on this decision

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Fr Victor Machado, Mangalore/Tanzania

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    The case is under investigation. No one can judge others till they are tried. Jesus clearly says not to judge others. The law has taken its course. It will give the judgment. Of course it is a painful thing for the church and those who believe in it. After all, love is all pain, pain, pain...Let the love and compassion of Jesus prevail among us all in all respects

    DisAgree [6] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincy , Bangkok

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    @Prabhu,these accused in the priest murder case are only accused until proven guilty .The dysp is not just a accused but died like coward being so powerful and had a uniform.
    people never comment bad about people who died,but here you see all these days what people say about the dysp,so relax.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bengaluru

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Dysp Ganapathi coward...here Killer priests of Fr.Thamas are brave...shield to be awarded...

    DisAgree [22] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Sun, Jul 31 2016

    priest killer is a coward. forget about award to a killer. dysp ganapati was a coward. he killed himself. surely bjp will give bravery award to coward ganapati.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Nashville

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Will you get bail on Day of Final Judgement ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • walter lobo, mangalroe

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    i agree with mr saldanaha, here one can use all his influence, money, muscle and political approach but on the judgement day no one will there to save.

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    This priest is 'Black spot' Kalank ka teeka, hang him!

    DisAgree [9] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sujith Nayak, Kudla / AUH

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Look at him......

    DisAgree [28] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Udupi

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Who!?. The picture above is of murdered Rector and not of the accused priest!. Read properly before you comment!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • neeth, mangalore

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Experts who have an opinion for every topic in this world are suspiciously missing...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bengaluru

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    intelligent policy...!
    They always prefer to laugh at others unmindful of all are laughing at them....

    DisAgree [10] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Nashville

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Experts are called last ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh D, Manglore, Dubai

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    No one can escape from the punishment even in this world and after death.
    People who are powerful and and having political influence also paid for their sins.
    Investigation is still going on. Trust there will not be any bandh or morcha if culprits are convicted.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bengaluru

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Comments flow is very very low for this news...we can understand the weakness.

    DisAgree [20] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • neeth, mangalore

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Rightly said.

    DisAgree [17] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Abu Dhabi

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Matter is in court

    Commenting may result in contempt of court

    Comments are not required at this stage

    DisAgree [6] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Kudla/Bengaluru

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    Birsaru....athi birsaru...!
    Dysp Ganapathi case ok...?

    DisAgree [15] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    priest murder from somebody case filed in court & proceedings under way. coward dysp ganapati self suicide, self crime nobody to blame.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [21] Report Abuse

  • RP, Mangaluru

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    These are radical Christian priests.....something indigestible to experts on sanghi behavior.....

    DisAgree [10] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sun, Jul 31 2016

    @RP.mangalore,we are Outsiders,know absolutely nothing what happened in that night,we comment Hearing what others say.Thats why we better not judge who is radicalists,and who not.Police and their reports too are not to take serious.We know how some judicial side works.Only pray that on final judgement day above noone can getaway.It Looks for me a big Long time arranged ,planned murder,to get the higher Position,but who is the real murder is difficult to tell.Still my conscious says priests are not the real murderers,but some Outsiders.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ina D,Souza, Thottam

    Sat, Jul 30 2016

    A very unfortunate difficult situation. May Almighty God in his mercy heal the wounds and grant peace to all, grant justice and eternal rest to the dear soul of Fr. K.J. Thomas. May the faithful of the Archdiocese of Bangalore be Blessed with peace of our Risen Lord Jesus. Amen.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Jailed priest in Rector’s murder case gets bail from SC



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