CBI begins probe into Karnataka priest's death

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun its probe into the mysterious death of a priest in 2009 in Karnataka.

According to reports, a CBI team comprising a deputy superintendent and four circle inspectors have arrived at Belthangady to investigate the murder of Fr James Mukalel.

The naked body of Fr James Mukalel, 39, was found on a roadside on July 30 in Belthangady, a division within Dakshina Kannada.

The priest met with tragic death when he was returning to his parish, after attending a funeral of one of his earlier parishioners.

The Karnataka High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in July to investigate the death after parents of the victim maintained that their son was murdered and it was not a case of suicide.

Advocate Prince Isac, who appeared on behalf of Mukalel's father, told media that the court directed the chief secretary, principal home secretary, DGP, SP, DK district and SI, Belthangady PS to hand over records to CBI.

While the first post-mortem failed to ascertain the cause of death and contained contradictions in the record, the second post-mortem revealed that the body had "ante-mortem injury wounds".

Fr Mukalel had been serving Belthangady diocese since 1999.