Kochi: The recovery of Rs 10 crore from Fr Antony Madassery, a close associate of Bishop Franco of Mulakkal facing rape charges, has given further impetus to the transparency campaigners. The Joint Christian Council and Archdiocese Movement for Transparency and many others have called for a detailed investigation into its source and purpose.
The Punjab police recovered Rs 9.66 crore kept in a sack in the generator room of the office of the Franciscan Missionaries of Jesus at Pratap Pura on Friday night.
Fr Madassery is the director general the congregation formed by the controversial bishop.
The money recovered without proper documents will be handed over to the Enforcement Directorate, police said. The income tax department will also be asked to trace its source.
The police arrested Fr Madassery and five others, including a woman, for keeping unaccounted money and released them the next day after recording their statements. According to the initial information provided by the Punjab police, the seizure was on information supplied by ED to prevent money laundering given the Lok Sabha elections.
