Bengaluru: Father Chowrappa Selvaraj alias Chasara, one of the accused in Father K.J. Thomas murder case passed away on Wednesday, March 16.
Revealing that 60-year-old Fr. Chasara was one of the ten accused in the case and was charged with conspiracy, an official said, “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.”
Fr. Chasara was the parish priest of St. Joseph’s Church at Briand Square.
The official further added, “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(62), Rector of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Yashwantpur, was found murdered on April 1, 2013 at the seminary on Malleswaram 8th Main Road.
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 were arrested in connection with the case a year after incident took place.
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.
