By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Chicalim, April 14, 2024: Catholics in Goa have rejoiced after a court dismissed an eight-month-old case against a Catholic priest who had allegedly insulted Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th century Martha king.

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on April 13 quashed the First Information Report against Father Bolmax Pereira, the parish priest of St Francis Xavier’s Church, Chicalim.

The police in Vasco on August 4, 2023, registered the FIR after a rightwing Hindu group gathered outside the station demanding the priest’s arrest for his comments on Shivaji Maharaj.

The police booked him under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly defiling a place of worship and Section 504 for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.

However, the Sessions Court in Margao, Goa’s commercial capital, granted him bail four days later.

The priest mentioned Shivaji during his Sunday sermon on July 30, 2023. He urged the congregation to become firm like Shivaji, who accepted all faiths.

“He did not discriminate against anyone. He accepted all people. He was a warrior, hero of the nation. Some people consider him as God. Dialogue with your friends and ask them whether Shivaji is your God or national Hero?” Father Pereira reportedly said in his sermon in Konkani language.

The sermon, titled “Sermon–God our Protector–Fr Bolmax Pereira,” was later posted on the parish YouTube channel.

While dismissing the case, the High Court bench of Justices M.S. Sonak and Valmiki Menezes said, “All that the petitioner stated, and with which the respondent disagreed, was that Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a God, though he is a national hero.”

“Expressing such a view point, and that too respectably does not attract the provisions of Section 295-A or Section 504 of the IPC, given the law that the alleged offending words must be judged from the standards of reasonable, strong minded, firm and courageous men and not those of weak and vacillating minds, not of those who scent danger in every holistic point of view,” the order added.

Jovito Fernandes, a journalist, says the High Court judgement “sends a clear message to the police not to allow outside elements to create communal discord in peaceful Goa.

He wants the state authorities to uphold Goa’s secular character and to not give an impression that the state promotes Hindu nationalism.

Neola Sybil Pereira, a youth of Father Pereira’s parish, says the court verdict has cleared their priest’s name and brought “a sigh of relief and reaffirms our faith in justice.”

She regretted that an “unnecessary tension and communal disharmony” was created “in our state” after some people gave an “unfortunate twist” to the priest’s words.

“But truth has triumphed in the end. Just as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Father Bolmax is a steadfast protector of our environment and cultural heritage, embodying the spirit of resilience and integrity,” said Pereira, a member of Chicalim Youth Farmers Club that Father Pereira started.

She also said Goans take pride in living in a state that values harmony. “Let this verdict serve as a testament to our collective strength and be a reminder that unity and mutual respect are the pillars of our society,” she told Matters India.

The verdict also delighted Marcy Salvino and Goans settled in the UK. “We are delighted at the verdict from the High Court. Ultimately, the truth cannot be silenced forever. The verdict proved it.”

Shogun Fernandes, president of Chicalim Youth Farmer Club, too says their priest’s “genuine concern” was “taken out of context and twisted and turned beyond what the content actually mentioned.”

The youth leader suspected “a hidden agenda” behind the case to suppress the voice of a person who raised his voice against destruction of ecology and environmental destruction, besides “other burning issues of Goa.”

He too said the verdict has assured them that they can trust the judiciary.

Francisco Nunes, moderator of the parish pastoral council says the complaint against their priest lacked basic facts.

“May this verdict serve as a guiding principle for all Goans to stay united against divisive forces raising their ugly head in our country,” Nunes told Matters India.