A Catholic minority welfare association has alleged that land donated for setting up an engineering college near Tiruvallur was later sold to private individuals for up to Rs 14 crore.
According to the association, a family of priests Juliet and Albert from Tiruvallur district donated 8 acres and 51 cents of land near Pannur to the Don Bosco Salesians on July 24, 2013. The land was said to be worth around Rs 10 crore at the time.
The donation, the association said, was made with a condition that an engineering college be established to support the education of poor and underprivileged students. Family members reportedly returned from abroad and attended a foundation-stone ceremony on August 13, 2013 at the specified site.
However, the association claimed that documents related to the conditions were signed on August 20, 2013, and that the conditions were removed without the donors’ knowledge. It further alleged that a power of attorney was issued the same day to an individual, who later subdivided and sold the land in parts.
In a joint statement, association leaders S. Jesuraj, Fernando and Joseph said complaints have been sent to the Chennai–Mylapore Archbishop and the organisation’s envoy for India, seeking a response within seven days. They also called for an inquiry by the Salesian leadership in Rome to determine who removed the conditions and who facilitated the sale, and said they would pursue action until justice is secured for the donors, now aged between 60 and 90.
