Bandra properties worth hundreds of crores donated for charity cause

Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven. And so believed Joseph Felix Periera, the reason why he willed his worldly goods – prime properties in Bandra, now worth several hundred crores – for charitable cause.

As per Joseph Periera's will, which changed hands after his death to niece Martha Pereira, and from Martha to her niece Marie Fernandes, one portion of the property on Hill Road will go to St Andrew Church and St Anthony's Old Age Home, while the property on Bullock Road off Bandra Bandstand will go to Archdiocese of Bombay. The property on Hill Road is just a stone's throw away from St Andrew Church, which is celebrating 400 years since it was rebuilt.

Though the will for the properties spread across several thousands of square feet was probated in 1987, it was executed only in January this year. A small part of the property has been retained for Marie Fernandes, responsible for executing the will after Martha passed away earlier this year.

"The will was probated in 1987 and given to us in January this year. The paper work, transferring the property in our name, is yet to be over. We have given an application to the city survey office to get details of the area and hence cannot state the exact area," said Fr Gerald Richard Crasto, estate manager of the Archdiocese of Bombay, who confirmed that the Archdiocese has been given the Marina Manora bungalow property on Bullock Road off Bandstand.

The other property that has been willed on Hill Road has popular restaurants like Kobe and Zaffran on its ground floor. Parish priest of St Andrews Church was not willing to come forth with details of the property when dna approached him.

While some parts have tenants in both properties, others are empty. Managers at Kobe and Zaffran said they were not in the know and that authorised persons of the restaurants would respond later. However, they did not get back. At Marina Manora, a relative of one of the tenants whose number has been put up on the locked door, said he is not the right person to talk to and that his relatives have held the property for 40 years and are travelling. No one answered the door bell at the other tenant's flat. dna dropped its card but did not hear from them.

Church officials said that the donated property was willed for a charitable cause. "Each place has been willed to make charitable institutions like children's homes etc. At Marina Manora, the charitable institution should be named after Periera," said Crasto.

"The Church informs its parishioners about weekly collections from the altar during Sunday masses. It should make such massive donation for charity cause also public. It would encourage more people to come forth and do more charity work. Transparency in such matters will also keep church above allegations of corruption and wrong-doing," said Anil Joseph, a resident of Bandra and member of the community.