Priest can’t read Punjabi, addresses media in Punjabi JALANDHAR: The case of raids on the Partappura village residence of Father Antony Madasserry, a key functionary of Diocese of Jalandhar , and seizure of Rs 9.66 crore alleged hawala money is getting murkier.First there was a difference in the police account on where the money was seized from, now Father Anthony has alleged that the total money seized amounted to Rs 16.65 crore and police had "misappropriated around Rs 6.65 crore". At the press conference held here on Sunday, he wasn't very sure about the exact amount missing, but a press note issued later was very categorical about the sum.According to Khanna police, Father Antony was among the six persons from whom Rs 9.66 crore was recovered. Khanna SSP Dhruv Dahiya has rubbished the allegations, saying, "The money was counted in the presence of IT department officials and they gave a certificate."The priest alleged that the money belonged to the partnership firm , Sahodya, being run by him and three other priests, and it was collected from the sale of books in around 45 convent schools across Punjab.Addressing a press conference on Sunday evening, the priest had also issued a written statement saying that he and his associates were not stopped at a naka by the Khanna police and the entire amount was taken away from his residence in Partappura village when the cash was being counted by bankers. He alleged that around 40-50 armed policemen came there and forcibly took away Rs 16.65 crore at gun-point.“We had already deposited Rs 14 crore in the bank and Rs 16.65 crore were to be deposited. Employees of South Indian Bank were counting the money. My signatures were forcibly taken on documents in Punjabi, which were not read to me, and I cannot read Punjabi,” Antony’s statement said. However, he addressed the press conference in fluent Punjabi. He also alleged that he was threatened with frame-up in a hawala case.The priest alleged that when he appeared before the I-T department, he realised the Khanna police had not handed over Rs 6.65 crore and the same amount had been “misappropriated”. He claimed that his firm has receipts of the total collected amount.Even in this instance there is a mismatch in the total sum. Khanna police had announced a recovery of Rs 9.66 crore, Antony alleged misappropriation of Rs 6.65 crore from the Rs 16.65 crore taken from his residence. This still leaves a sum of Rs 34 lakh unaccounted for.

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