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A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered after a Bandra court directed the police to act on a complaint by local resident Robinson Nelson Gonsalves regarding land near Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra (West), Mumbai. Gonsalves alleged that two priests and three security guards removed construction materials worth INR 750,000 from a property legally registered in his name and threatened him over raising the issue. Church authorities denied these claims, stating the land belongs to the Basilica and said they have taken legal measures to protect their property rights.
A property dispute near the Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra (West), Mumbai, has escalated with a First Information Report (FIR) being filed against two priests and three security personnel. The FIR followed a directive from a Bandra court, which acted on a complaint from local resident and businessman Robinson Nelson Gonsalves. He approached the court after the Bandra police had initially not registered his complaint. Advertisement
Gonsalves claimed the land, identified as CTS No. B837-D and B837-F, was part of his hereditary share after a family partition and was legally registered in his name earlier in 2024. He stated that in March 2025, an employee reported that the main iron gate had been removed and part of the compound wall was damaged. Gonsalves alleged that Fathers Vernon Aguiar and Sunder Albuquerque, along with three security guards, were involved in removing construction materials from the plot, including iron channels, wooden planks, and cement sheets, estimated to be worth INR 750,000. He also said he was threatened when he raised concerns over the removal of his ownership signboard.
The church, however, disputed Gonsalves claims, stating that the land legally belongs to Mount Mary Basilica and that the work carried out on the plot was part of authorized renovation efforts. Representatives of the church added that Gonsalves has attempted multiple legal maneuvers to claim the land and that FIRs have been filed against him in the past. They also confirmed that they have approached the Bombay High Court to safeguard the church's property rights.
Following the court order, the Bandra police registered the FIR under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to trespass, theft, and criminal intimidation. Police are now investigating the matter, reviewing witness statements, verifying property documents, and examining any available video evidence to determine the sequence of events and responsibilities.
The Mount Mary Basilica, one of Mumbai's prominent religious landmarks, has been at the center of property disputes before, as legal claims and local ownership interests have occasionally overlapped. The current case illustrates the difficulties in resolving property disputes in areas with historical significance and dense urban development.
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