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Forcibly my signature was taken on Punjabi documentation: Fr. Madassery

April 4, 2019

Fr. Antony Madassery of Jalandhar Diocese has come up with a complete clarification explaining about the recent controversial case related to ‘Sahodaya’. The priest, in his recent press note, iterated that “I am having a partnership firm ‘Sahodaya’ rendering services for providing books, stationary items, uniforms and security to many schools in Punjab. We are running this partnership concern with many schools and the entire money is collected at my residence at Partapura.”

The priest confirms that “We had already deposited 14 crores in the bank and the balance amount of 16 crores 65 lakhs were to be deposited on 29^th March 2019. The employees of South Indian Bank, Jalandhar were counting the money to the bank to deposit the same. The staff and the guard of the bank were there to take the money to be taken to the South Indian Bank to be deposited.” Fr. Madassery recollects that “Around 40 to 50 people armed with pistols and AK 47 without any search warrant forcibly trespassed in my residence and forcibly took away approximately 16 crores, 65 lakhs. They also took away the mobile phone and also forcibly abducted me and others from my residence at gunpoint. None of the local police officials were informed about this raid.”

Fr. Madassery emphasized that “Later, I was told that they were Khanna and they told me that they did this raid at the instance of SSP Khanna. Forcibly my signature were taken on Punjabi documentation which were not read to me and I too cannot read Punjabi. Initially, I was threatened that I will be framed in a hawala case. I made it clear to them that the whole money is accounted for with bills and books are being maintained properly at my Sahodaya office.”

“I was given a notice by Income Tax department Ludhiana that Khanna police has presented 9 crores 66 lakhs to Income Tax authorities. I was asked to personally appear before the IT officials and asked to show the detailed proofs of the total money that was seized by the police,” the priest said. The priest claims that he realized during his appearance to the Income Tax authorities that Khanna police has not handed over 6 crores and 65 lakhs to the IT authorities. He reiterated that “The same 6 crores, 65 lakhs have been misappropriated by police and my firm has the proofs and receipts of total collected amount.”

Complaints have been given to the Commissioner of Police for registration of FIR against SSP Khanna and other police officials who took money at gunpoint without proper accounting and inventory. The South Indian Bank and the Jalandhar diocese have come up in the frame, defending the priest and explained the complete scene by clarifying the priest’s innocence.