Uttar Pradesh: accusations (with assault) against a priest and his school

Fr. Arisher Joseph, principal of St. Francis School in Khunta Kheda, was detained and released on bail after being physically assaulted following accusations of “inappropriate behavior” with students. But many parents of the school are defending him, claiming it is an attempt to discredit the Catholic institution. Bishop Jesuraj: “No one can take justice into their own hands; the incident must be properly investigated.”

Lucknow (AsiaNews) – The St. Francis School in Khunta Kheda, in the Rampur district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has been at the center of a heated confrontation for several days, involving families, civil authorities, and Church officials. The controversy was sparked by still‑unverified accusations of “inappropriate behavior” against Fr. Arisher Joseph, a Catholic priest and founding principal of the institution. He was detained on 16 February and released the same day after being granted bail.

Police intervened after angry parents gathered on campus and assaulted him before authorities were able to regain control of the situation. Fr. Arisher Joseph, a member of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance (TOR), was physically attacked by a group of adults who were not parents of the school but included individuals connected to other institutions. The police report states that the case came to light after parents noticed their children were “hesitant and fearful” about going to school. When questioned, many students reportedly said that Fr. Joseph called them individually to his office for mistakes or misbehavior in class. It is alleged that he touched them inappropriately, claiming it was “a form of punishment to discipline them.”

Another group of parents, however, is defending the priest and completely rejecting the accusations. They argue that St. Francis School is known for its excellent educational standards and strict discipline, and that certain individuals, driven by personal interests or grudges, are attempting to discredit it. Speaking to the media, they stated that their children have received an education for many years in a safe environment on the same campus, and they have never had complaints about the principal or staff. According to them, publicly damaging the school’s reputation without solid evidence is highly deplorable.

They state that the truth behind the allegations against the principal should be made public, so that no innocent individual or institution is subjected to unnecessary psychological or social pressure. The parents also stressed that the administration should investigate the real motives behind these accusations and identify who might be orchestrating disruptions to the school environment behind the scenes. In their view, if anyone has a genuine concern, it should be addressed through legal and administrative channels, not through smear campaigns against the institution.

The bishop of Meerut, Msgr. Bhaskar Jesuraj, told AsiaNews: “This school is run by a religious order and is within the Diocese of Meerut. I was away on the day of the incident, but it appears to be a conspiracy linked to particular interests of nearby educational institutions. I was saddened to see the video of the attack on Fr. Francis; there are legal procedures to follow in the case of accusations—no one can take justice into their own hands. Moreover, antisocial elements keep a close watch on any missionary school operating in the area.”