Kochi: Melvin Padua, who was released from Kannur central jail on Friday, said the former jail director-general of police, Alexander Jacob, had a grudge against him which delayed his release.
It may be recalled that Padua had spent almost 19 years in jail on the charge of murdering a 23-year-old nurse inside the toilet of Jayanti-Janata Express in 1994.
Padua, who met the media at his home at Tripunithura on Saturday, said it was Jacob who objected to his release although his punishment was over in 2008 when he completed 14 years in jail as ordered by the court.
“Alexander Jacob had a grudge against me because I married a nun. He, being a religious man and a preacher, did not like it, although the Church had nothing against me. Many officials had also told me that it was Alexander Jacob who played behind my case,” Padua said. He also asked Jacob to withdraw his comments suggesting that the wives of jail inmates were leading immoral lives and that their kids were on criminal path.
Padua’s wife Beatrice, mother and two kids were glad to see Padua back home. Padua is planning to take up a job at the office of Joseph Chavara, the chief patron of Kerala Advertising Agencies’ Association (K3A). Joseph Chavara had worked for the release of Padua amid strong objections from the government and jail authorities.
When contacted, Alexander Jacob said Padua’s statements were baseless. “His release was considered three times by the jail board. All the time, it was I who proposed his name. Anyone can seek the jail documents through Right To Information Act to see if I voted for or against his release. And he should understand that he did not come out due to his merit this time too.
It was because I proposed it again and voted for his release. There are 37 others who have served more years in jail than Padua, but are yet to be released. They all are still inside because the government does not recommend releasing the people who have committed crimes against women or children,” he told DC.
