A close relative of the slain seminary rector has alleged that the lack
of pace in the investigation in the latter’s murder will help culprits
escape punishment.“The role of a priest of the same seminary in the murder had been proved after a narco analysis and brain mapping test,” said Joseph Mathew, nephew of Fr K J Thomas, who was the rector of St. Peter’s pontifical seminary in Bangalore and was murdered on April 1.
He alleged that the church was not extending full support to the investigation now after police had revealed the name of Fr Patrick Xavier in the case.
“The lack of support from the church is affecting the investigation,” he added.
“We came to know that there was intense animosity among certain priests and their supporters against Fr. Thomas after he became the rector of the seminary for the second time in 2012, and due to his chance of becoming a bishop of the church,” he said.
The charge against Fr. Xavier is that he didn’t alert anyone after hearing the screams from the room of the late priest on the day of his death.
Father Thomas reportedly had earned the wrath of a group of priests in Karnataka because of his impartial stand and his ascension to the top of the seminary hierarchy.
The seminary is directly supervised by the Vatican, which has reportedly taken special interest through its ambassador in India in the case after the incident was initially reported.
Father Thomas was a native of Ettumanoor near Kottayam.