The MHB Police Station has initiated legal proceedings against the Director of a prominent Christian education mission over allegations of hurling caste-slurs, torture, and forcing the cleaning of toilets on the director-principal of a technical education institution, along with his students. The complaint, filed by academic Santosh Pandurang Shinde, Director-Principal of Ava Elma Vocational Educational Pvt. Ltd., has resulted in the MHB Police registering an FIR against Fr. Corlis Noel Gonsalves, Director of Bosco Boys Home.
Lawyer Nitin Satpute confirmed the case and stated that various sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been invoked. Investigations are currently ongoing.
In response to these allegations, Principal Shinde and his students protested outside the police station, demanding the immediate arrest of Fr. Gonsalves. They accuse him of subjecting them to casteist slurs, mental torture, and humiliation. Principal Shinde claimed, “The Director Fr. Gonsalves has been continuously targeting my students and me in different ways, including cutting off our drinking water supply, locking up the toilets, and removing the cleaning staff to force me to clean up the rest rooms of my government-recognized vocational training institute.”
Despite efforts to contact Fr. Gonsalves, he has not provided his version of the events. As of now, the police have not made any arrests in the case.
The issues reportedly began in January 2023 when Fr. Gonsalves asked Principal Shinde to vacate his rented premises. Principal Shinde suspects that this change in attitude occurred when Fr. Gonsalves learned of his Dalit caste background.
The FIR quotes Fr. Gonsalves as saying, “You low-caste people have used my toilet and dirtied it…You clean up the toilet with your hands now.” Students were forced to clean the toilets after using them, following Fr. Gonsalves’ orders.
When Principal Shinde requested the restoration of the water supply, Fr. Gonsalves allegedly responded with derogatory remarks about their caste.
Principal Shinde, unable to relocate due to certain circumstances, has been subjected to alleged persecution by Fr. Gonsalves.
He calls for police action against Fr. Gonsalves to serve as a deterrent.
