IT professional held for fudging documents

Probe into case involving senior functionaries of archdiocese takes new turn

Investigations into the case of ‘forged’ documents with senior functionaries of the Syro-Malabar archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly at its centre took a new turn on Sunday with the police recording the arrest of Adithya Valavi, a young information technology professional and an IIT alumnus, allegedly for fabricating the documents.

Adithya was taken into custody for questioning on Thursday morning. His not being released or his arrest not being recorded till late into Saturday night triggered protest from his co-parishioners at Konthuruthy, who gathered before the DySP office in Aluva.

It is learnt that the IT professional confessed to fabricating the documents at the instigation of a priest in the archdiocese. The documents were later handed over to Father Paul Thelakkatt, a senior priest, who in turn handed them over to the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese Jacob Manathodath. The bishop in turn handed over the documents to Cardinal George Alencherry during the synod of bishops early this year.

Defaming Cardinal

It is alleged that the documents were meant to paint the Cardinal in poor light before the synod of bishops in the wake of a series of controversial land transactions that resulted in substantial financial losses for the archdiocese.

Police condemned

Meanwhile, human rights organisation Janakeeya Manushyavakasa Prasthanam condemned the police action claiming that it was against the law. The police should produce a person taken into custody within 24 hours before a court and only a court order can authorise longer custody.