Media Release
Udupi, Mar 21: Diocese of Udupi released an official statement on Fr Mahesh D'Souza suicide case on on Saturday, March 21.
In an official release, it stated, "The diocese of Udupi appreciates the objective and impartial investigation carried out by the law enforcing agencies, especially the police, into the untimely death of Fr Mahesh D’Souza, the assistant parish priest of Shirva parish and the principal of Don Bosco English Medium School.
"The investigation conducted in a very detailed manner, as indicated from the report submitted before the sub-divisional magistrate, Kundapur, comprising a total of 1580 pages with a 202-page summary, would reflect that, 95 witnesses have been enquired into and their statements recorded, reports of the forensic experts, post mortem report from the doctors, reports of the audio and video analysis experts, have been received and analysed, and personally verified the circumstantial evidences, and thereby have arrived at the following conclusions:
1. The death of Fr Mahesh occurred between 8.50 pm and 9.05 pm on October 11, 2019, in the office of the principal.
2. The death was a suicide by hanging, not a murder or any other cause, abetted by the telephonic threat of a person who was angered by the chats between his wife and Fr Mahesh.
3. Fr Mahesh had a suicidal tendency and had attempted suicide thrice in the past.
4. The allegations regarding the proposed transfer, ill-treatment by the parish priest, etc. have been proved to be baseless.
5. Apart from the above, it is reiterated that, the investigation concludes that none of the following, i.e., Fr Vincent Robert Crasta, Fr Denis Alexander D’Sa, Fr Ashwin Aranha, bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo and Alwyn Dominic Danthi are, in any manner, responsible for the suicide of Fr Mahesh.
"As the facts have been laid bare by the police investigation report, there remain no doubts regarding the cause of the demise of Fr Mahesh.
"The diocese of Udupi mourns the untimely death of Fr Mahesh D’Souza, and prays for the repose of his soul," said the statement.