Bandra Citizens Unite to Protect Church Property from Unauthorized Sale
The Catholic Church’s Retreat House property in Bandra, a site of significant religious and cultural importance, has a new set of protectors: concerned citizens who have come together to prevent any unauthorized and fraudulent sale of the prime church property. The property, which has recently been advertised for sale at an estimated price of Rs 900 crore, is now under scrutiny and protection by a group of community members.
In their police complaint, they have also claimed that sections of the church administration may be involved in trying to sell the property surreptitiously. Under the banner of the Vigilance Team of Catholics, community members submitted the complaint to the Mumbai Police on Friday and erected a large poster at the entrance of the sprawling Retreat House property. The poster clearly states that the land belongs to the Catholic Church of Bombay and warns against any unauthorized transaction.
The dramatic move comes days after an advertisement in the real estate market offering the prime 2.16-acre Bandstand property for Rs 900 crore. In the complaint dated June 5 to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, Advocate Joaquim F Fernandes, appearing on behalf of Melwyn Fernandes, Founder-Secretary of the Association of Concerned Christians, sought police intervention over the alleged sale claims.
The complaint refers to an advertisement about the sale of the property, identified as CTS No. 858 at Mount Mary Road, Bandra West. It also mentions that the complainant personally contacted Jesuit spokesperson Fr Frazer Mascarenhas on June 4, who allegedly denied that the Retreat House property had been put up for sale. The letter also draws parallels with a similar controversy that erupted in 2023 over the alleged sale of Clergy Home, another prominent Church property at Bandra Bandstand. The complainant alleges that despite objections at the time, no legal action was taken against those involved in publishing the sale notice.
Going a step further, the complaint alleges that there could be “collusion and connivance” involving Church administrators and other parties attempting to sell Church land without the knowledge of the wider Catholic community. “We have sought police action against representatives of the Archdiocese of Bombay, officials associated with its estate and finance offices, and members of the Society of Jesus Bombay Province, while also demanding assurances that the property will not be sold,” said Melwyn Fernandes.
Friday’s poster campaign marks the first visible public assertion of ownership by community activists at the site itself. The banner prominently displayed at the entrance of Retreat House states that the land belongs to the Catholic Church and cautions prospective buyers and brokers. It also mentions that trespassers are strictly not allowed. The latest development adds another layer to a controversy that has already triggered outrage among sections of Mumbai’s Catholic community, many of whom view historic Church properties as institutions built through generations of donations and community support.
With complaints now reaching the highest levels of the Mumbai Police and public mobilization beginning on the ground, pressure is mounting on Church authorities and investigating agencies to clarify the status of the property and determine how a prime religious institution’s land came to be advertised in the market in the first place. A senior office-bearer of the Society of Jesus, Bombay Province, categorically denied any plans to dispose of the property. He said, “The property is owned by the Bombay Xaverian Corporation Limited and is being properly maintained. There is absolutely no question of selling it or putting it up for sale.”
