Mangalore sessions court dismisses SAC bail application in house demolition case.

Mangalore sessions court dismisses SAC bail application in house demolition case.

mangaloretoday.com

Mangalore, July 16: A press release circulated by  DK PUCL to news channels on July 16, is reported below:


"The Second Additional Sessions Judge, Mangalore has dismissed an Anticipatory Bail Application filed by Two Priests, Fr. Almeida and Fr. Cyril, both of whom are the principal Accused in the John Baptist Lewis case.

On the afternoon of 26th June 2014, these two Priests along with the Rector – Fr. Denzil Lobo and their Lawyer – M.P. Noronha, brought a JCB and demolished the residential house in which Lewis and his daughters were residing since decades and the family has been on the streets since that date.  A group of over 40 persons who included anti-social elements and students of the college physically manhandled the old man and his young daughters and demolished the structure burying everything that belonged to them in the debris after taking away all the original documents which belonged to Lewis.  The dispute was subjudice before the Civil Court, despite which position, this act was carried out.  The Police have only arrested the JCB Driver and the three workmen and the Sessions Court has refused to release them on Bail through the Order passed today.

 
Though the Applicants are Priests and are regular residents of the college, the Police have avoided arresting them and after a period of two weeks, they applied for  Anticipatory Bail.  Their Application was strongly opposed by JUSTICE M.F. SALDANHA who has taken up the case in the public interest.  In his Affidavit, he pointed out to the Court that these Priests have not only acted high handedly and illegally but that they have been using their money power and influence to avoid arrest. It is demonstrated that they have no respect for the Law or for the pending cases or for the Court(s) and that they have committed Contempt of Court and are disqualified from any relief.  Also, JUSTICE M.F. SALDANHA has pointed out to the Court that these are  serious offences in which Bail cannot be granted and that their arrest and custodial interrogation is essential to trace out and prosecute the remaining 40 persons who had participated in the offence, one of whom is the Vice Principal of the College by the name of D’Silva who is also absconding.  The Court has upheld these contentions and dismissed the Anticipatory Bail Application filed by the Priests.

 
In a strongly worded Notice addressed to the Police Commissioner, Justice Saldanha has pointed out that this incident which has sent shock waves in the public mind indicates a total breakdown of Law and Order and that after today’s Court Order, the Police must arrest all the Accused persons immediately.