Case Filed against Archbishop, 2 Archdiocese Officials

Times of India
February 15, 2013

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Case-filed-against-archbishop-2-archdiocese-officials/articleshow/18524234.cms

A trial court has registered a case against officials of the archdiocese of Bhopal, including archbishop for allegedly conspiring to administer poison to prove one of the priest in the diocese as mentally unsound.

Magistrate Alok Mishra ordered to register the case on February 7 and set March 1 as the date for hearing on a complaint against Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, his vicar general Father VC Mathew and archdiocese spokesman Father Johnney PJ.

Father Anand Muttungal, former public relations officer for the archdiocese, was allegedly targeted by his superiors after he filed a court case over alleged misappropriation of funds by local church leaders.

"It was a major conspiracy to prove that I am mentally unstable. I have enough evidence to prove their corrupt activities," said Father Anand.

Archbishop Cornelio, however, claimed that the allegations against him were baseless.

"I have several evidences of his behavioural problem, which became a matter of concern for us. So we consulted the best psychiatrist in the city and they advised medicines," he said, adding the plan was abandoned later as we did not get his family's consent.

He also used to threaten people and issue notices to them by misusing his official position, Archbishop Cornelio told TOI.

Father Johnny said, "Father Anand is suffering from fear psychosis from early days. He had been doing this to malign church authorities since he was removed from the post of PRO. He is trying to create hurdles in golden jubilee celebration of the diocese," he alleged.

Father Muttungal said he was forced to approach the court because there was no police action on a complaint he had filed last month. "As police did not act on my complaint, I had to approach the court to save my life," he said.

Father K P Philip, a diocesan priest in Bhopal, submitted an affidavit to the court in which he substantiated Father Anand's allegations.

The affidavit states that he had accompanied the archbishop and vicar general to a psychiatrist in December last year, where they discussed their plans with the doctor for 'treating' Father Anand.

The affidavit states that diocesan officials put pressure on Father Philip to add dung in Father Anand's food and drink. But he refused to do that. The court filed the case against the accused based on the submissions of Father Philip.