Father Chasara was depressed after being named accused

BENGALURU: Father Chowrappa Selvaraj alias Chasara, the parish priest of St. Joseph’s Church at Briand Square who passed away on Wednesday, was an accused in the Father K.J. Thomas murder case. Police said that 60-year-old Fr. Chasara was one of the ten accused in the case and was charged with conspiracy.

“Based on the confessions of the three arrested accused in the case, Fr. Chasara was made an accused in the case. Investigations revealed that Fr. Chasara had actively taken part in the meetings held to eliminate Fr. Thomas. It was revealed that he had taken part in the two crucial meetings held a week before and a day before the murder,” an official said.

Fr. Chasara was reportedly depressed after his name figured in the additional chargesheet filed by the police a few months ago. “As he was named as an accused he was depressed. Further, when his anticipatory bail petitions were rejected by fast track court and High Court recently, he was very upset. Moreover, he had several health issues,” the official added. The police will inform the court about the demise of an accused in the case when the trial begins.

Fr. K.J. Thomas, the 62-year-old Rector of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Yashwantpur, was found murdered on April 1, 2013 at the seminary on Malleswaram 8th Main Road. A year later, the police had arrested three people — Elias, father of a church in Gulbarga, William Patrick, father of a church in Kengeri, and Peter, 22, who worked in a church in the city. Two of the assailants are still absconding. The police have booked five others, including priests, in the case. Investigations had revealed that the accused felt that the Kannadiga priests were not getting their due importance and eliminating Fr. Thomas would help them get key posts.

CBI probe sought
Fr. Chasara was a renowned Kannada litterateur and pro-Kannada activist. He had translated Bible and its history to Kannada and was popular by his pen name Chasara. He was the president of the Karnataka Kannada Dharmagurugala Balaga and one of the office bearers of Akhila Karnataka Kannada Catholic Christhara Sangha. He passed away at St. Philomena’s Hospital on Wednesday. On Thursday, the funeral mass was held at St. Joseph’s Church. Power Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who visited the church to pay last respects, was urged by Fr. Chasara’s supporters to refer the Fr Thomas murder case to CBI. Mr Shivakumar assured them that he would discuss the issue and see whether a re-investigation could be done.