Goregaon Social issue: Catholic group lashes out against Archdiocese's office

Embattled Riyaaz Amlani. (Right) Melwyn Fernandes from the Association of Concerned Catholics

Embattled Riyaaz Amlani. (Right) Melwyn Fernandes from the Association of Concerned Catholics

The brouhaha over the offending Goregaon Social does not seem to be conclusively ending and new offshoots keep cropping up. Now, despite the Archdiocese's statement on Friday accepting pub owner Riyaaz Amlani's apology and considering the matter closed, a Catholic networking group has stepped in to take over the mantle from the Watchdog Foundation.

In a scathing email to the archdiocese's office on Monday, legal advocate Joseph Sodder, on behalf of the Association of Concerned Catholics, has claimed, 'I am amused that your office is issuing statements that the matter is closed, with regards to the Goregaon Social Pub.'

Accusations fly

Questioning the archdiocese's motive in issuing a public statement in a case, which was registered after "much difficulty", the letter states, "It is very easy to sit in an ivory tower and issue statements…It appears that the archdiocese is hand-in-glove with the perpetrators of the crime."

The AOCC has further questioned whether "the archdiocese is above the law by releasing such statements, as these statements amounts to interference in the police investigation." The letter goes on to point out the archdiocese themselves have numerous legal pending cases of having sold land that (allegedly) didn't belong to them anymore. "It is better to desist from doing damage to the FIR when your office is ignorant of the law…please inform your office not to interfere in the due process of law," concludes the letter.

Harsh critique

"Who are they to decide the law?" questioned Melwyn Fernandes, secretary, AOCC. "Let the courts, police, and BMC decide whether this pub is legal or whether it should be closed down."

"The letter was sent directly to the cardinal Oswald Gracias' email ID," said Sodder, adding, "I also called their office and they said they'd call me back, but haven't yet done so."

The other side
When mid-day contacted Father Nigel Barett (spokesperson, Archdiocese, Bombay office), he stated that they had not received any such communication.