The Economic Offence Wing of Mumbai police has booked Joesph Dias, president of Catholic Christian Secular forum, for allegedly siphoning off Rs2.2 crore belonging to a senior citizen, now deceased, in connivance with three others.
The first information report (dna has a copy of it) states that Dias duped the woman on the pretext of helping her spend the money for a charitable cause. Dias refuted the charges, terming them as part of a conspiracy to malign him, at the behest of a politician.
According to complainant, Father Conard Patrik Saldanha, Dias had in 2010 introduced him to an elderly spinster, Paulita D'souza, who resided at Willingdon Society in Santa Cruz.
The redevelopment of the society had hit a roadblock because D'souza was opposed to the plan and Dias wanted Saldanha to negotiate with the senior citizen, reads the complaint.
Saldanha, 49, stated that being a priest, he was able to persuade D'souza to agree to the project, but later learnt that Dias had already struck a deal between the developer and D'souza for Rs3.25 crore.
The FIR says D'souza expressed a desire to build an old-age home for the poor and was ready to give Rs2.2core for the cause. Dias said they would need to set up a trust to facilitate things.
Saldanha said Dias formed Jeevan Daata Trust by roping in one Allen D'silva and got the entire money transferred into the trust's account in September 2010.
Dias allegedly told Saldanha that they would have to get into a contract with M/s Sterling construction systems Pvt Ltd for a plot in Neral. Accordingly, Rs2.19crore was transferred to Sterling, the police said.
Saldanha said he asked Dias about the status of the project after D'souza's death in July 2012, but was offered Rs75 lakh to keep quiet. When refused, Dias allegedly told him that the money was gone. Saldanha then filed a complaint against Dias, his wife, Allen D'silva, Sterling construction systems and its owner Joe D'silva.
An EOW officer said, "We have called Dias and the other accused to register their statement and are investigating the matter".
On his part, Dias said he was never involved with the trust and it was Saldanha who was the managing trustee. He said he was targeted at the behest of a politician, against whom he has filed a case for criminal intimidation and defamation.
"The politician is trying to malign me ever since he was denied the post of vice-chairman of the state minority commission based on my recommendations. We have been told that Saldanha is his agent."
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