Daijiworld Media Network
Mangaluru, Aug 17: Former parish priest of Urwa Victor D'Mello, who is currently serving as parish priest of Our Lady of Remedies Church at Kirem, has been accused of 'misappropriating' Rs 11 lac allegedly after forging the will of Urwa parishioner Annie Pais, a spinster, and taking her thumb impression soon after she breathed her last on July 31, 2010.
A private complaint was filed by an Urwa parishioner in the local court, which referred it to the local police station for investigation.
A report based on the complaint was published in an English daily of repute a couple of days back, giving rise to several questions and creating anxiety among the parishioners of Urwa and also the faithfuls of the diocese.
Based on the complaint filed by Winnie Pinto, the niece of Annie Pais, case has also been filed against Irene Lobo, an 84-year-old spinster who was a close friend of Annie Pais and was living with her for during her last years. It is alleged that Irene had transferred the amount of Rs 11 lac from Annie Pais' account to Fr D'Mello's account. Kevin Martis, the then parish council vice-president, Jenevive Mathias, the then parish council secretary, both of whom were witnesses to the second will of Annie Pais, are also accused in the case.
The allegation is that the first will, dated February 4, 2008 is in English and has all the details such as her movable and immovable properties, cash at bank, fixed deposit details etc which were duly signed by Annie Pais, and notarised. But the second will, dated June 18, 2010, according to the police complaint, does not bear clauses of the first will, and does not bear the signature of Annie Pais, nor the notary stamp. But it has her thumb impression. In the will, Annie had reportedly allotted her property and cash to the 30 members of her family.
Fr Victor D'Mello shows proof of innocence
When Daijiworld correspondent visited Fr D'Mello at Kirem church, he said he was unfazed by the allegations, but expressed disappointment at the one-sided reports by certain newspapers. He hinted that a certain person from Urwa parish who wanted to settle a score with him could be planting stories to defame him.
He explained that he has nothing to do with the will of Annie Pais or with Irene Lobo. He recalled the cordial relation between the two spinster friends Annie and Irene. He also recalled that Annie Pais wanted people to remember her through the church even after her death, so she wanted to donated her house to the church, but instead of taking the house, Irene and the parish council members convinced her to build an adoration chapel in her name. She agreed and volunteered to write a letter in the form of a 'will', which, due to her ill health, she could not sign, but she put her thumb impression and gave the letter through Irene Lobo.
"I am extremely surprised to see newspaper report that the complaint accuses me of taking thumb impression of Annie after her death. This is really cruel. I have nothing to do with it. People should not make stories without verifyng it," he said.
He further said that an amount of Rs 12 lac was there in the joint bank account of Annie Pais and Irene Lobo, and after the death of Annie Pais, Irene legally got that money into her account, and from that money, she transferred Rs 10 lac to the parish priest's account for buildng the adoration chapel.
Fr D'Mello has provided the copy of statement to Daijiworld, which shows that the amount was transferred on December 7, 2010 in three transactions of Rs 3 lac each twice, and 4 lac one entry.
"The newspaper report sounds as if the money has come to my personal account. It has not. The money has been transferred to the parish priest account which was duly audited and accounted. Out of Rs 10 lac, Rs 9.5 lac has already been spent on building the adoration chapel, so where is the question of cheating or misappropriation of money by me?" questioned Fr D'Mello.
"I am extremely pained by the false allegations against me. I have requested the bishop of Mangaluru to appoint any kind of committee to investigate the accounts. I am ready for anything. I only pray that the Almighty shows the right path and guides those who are trying to spoil my name by creating stories for their personal gain and ego," he said.
"I was transferred from Urwa in May 2015. Before leaving Urwa, I made a public appeal to the parishioners to meet me if there was any doubt regarding accounts of the church or any other matter. But no one came forward. Now I am surprised that after so many years they are dragging my name into this. I have done my duty as parish priest, and with utmost satisfaction I have been serving God through my service."
When Daijiworld contacted a few parishioners in Urwa, they were of the opinion that Fr Victor D'Mello was transparent in managing his account, and he was known as the 'people's priest' as he had initiated several pro-poor projects to reach out to the needy. In 2009 during his tenure as parish priest, he took the initiative of raising Rs 38 lac as medical fund by organising Fancy Fete and Bazar, which has been helping not only the poor parishioners of Urwa but people throughout the diocese at large in meeting their medical needs.
The police are expected to submit a report to the court by next week.