Aide of rape-accused Bishop detained with Rs 10-cr ‘hawala’ money

Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 29

In yet another trouble for the Diocese of Jalandhar, Father Anthony Madasserry, a close aide of rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has been detained by the Khanna police in a raid conducted on his office-cum-residence at Partappura here today.

The police reportedly recovered around Rs 10 crore hawala money from the accused, which is being verified by Income-Tax officials.

A team of Khanna police arrived at Partappura, which is the generalate headquarters of congregation Franciscan Missionaries of Jesus, founded by Bishop Franco. Father Anthony is the Director General of the congregation. The police are learnt to have taken into custody six persons, including Father Anthony and a woman. The other accused are from Tarn Taran and Mumbai.

A senior official confirmed that six persons, including the priest, had been detained from Partappura. “We will address a press conference at 8:30 am tomorrow,” he said, refusing to divulge details.

Father Anthony Madasserry reportedly remained in Kerala for around three weeks when the Bishop was in judicial custody and returned to Jalandhar with him. The Bishop thanked him during the first mass he held after his return. Father Anthony is also managing a few enterprises — Navjeevan Charitable Society and Sahodaya (that run a private security firm; school contracts for buses, uniforms and books, etc) and Shine Coachings.