SIT questions priests
Action follows Adithya’s statement in forged docu case.
Kochi: In the forged document case which shook Ernakulam - Angamaly archdiocese, the special investigation team questioned Fr Paul Thelakkat and Fr Antony Kallookaran on Thursday.
Fr. Thelakkat is the first accused while Fr Kallookaran is the fourth accused. The questioning was at the Aluva DSP office. The two priests came by 10 am with their advocates.
The investigating officials said that the interrogation would continue in the coming days. The third accused Adithya Valavi, who is out on bail, is now hospitalised. The police questioned the priests based on his statement.
The investigators want to question the three together. The police have given time till June 5 to complete questioning. But, if Adithya remains in hospital, it will be difficult for the SIT to question the three together.
Meanwhile, sources said that the priests cooperated with the questioning which lasted for more than three hours. “Adithya is willing to be present before the police for questioning,” a source said.
The Ernakulam principal sessions court had allowed the police to interrogate the priests in the presence of an advocate from 10 am to 4 pm with enough break time.
The case has been registered based on a complaint of the church of forging documents to defame Cardinal Mar George Alencherry.
Adithya sent the documents to Fr Thelakkat who handed it over to Bishop Jacob Manathodath, the apostolic administrator of Ernakulam - Angamaly archdiocese.
He submitted it before the Syro Malabar Church synod to check its veracity. The police arrested Adithya and charged him with forgery, and his lawyers had alleged severe police excess in the case.