Mangaluru: Misuse of newspaper for cheating, harassment and blackmail

- Media Release

Mangaluru, 20 Nov 2015: For quite some time now John Monis hailing originally from Madanthyar is using his Konkani newspaper “Dirvem” for deceiving and exploiting innocent people by various means. He has also been using his periodical for blackmailing and also for the character assassination of well-known and upcoming Konkani writers. This has created panic and fear among many Konkani writers and artistes and also among those who have given him loan in good faith.

 

 

In Madanthyar he had collected money from people promising to provide cupboards on installments, power connection and installation of  mobile tower. After collecting money from them he escaped and came to Mangalore. He started a Konkani periodical “Dirvem” in Mangalore and took loans from many on the pretext of running a Konkani paper. However, when he failed to repay as promised and people asked him to return the loan, he began to blackmail and humiliate by writing against them using foul language along with their photographs. All those who helped him in good faith by giving loan including writers, businessmen and clergy, are now frightened and live in constant fear.

 

John Monis has also been threatening people saying if they write against him they will be cursed, afflicted with diseases and will meet with accidents. As editor instead of encouraging young and emerging Konkani writers, he has been promoting unscientific and perverse thinking. When young Kannada - Konkani writer, lecturer Melvyn Kolalgiri was bedridden following an accident he described it as “a curse for criticising” his newspaper. This is nothing but an effort to lower the self esteem of a young writer. He has written abusive articles against about Sahithya Akademi award winner Melvyn Rodrigues, Noted Critic H M Pernal and young Konkani poet Wilson Kateel.   

 

 

It is indeed very unfortunate that without verifying the credentials of John Monis, who has no literary background or journalistic experience to boast about, he has been permitted to use  a weapon called “newspaper”. He is using this weapon to spread terror among Konkani’s and people live in constant fear because he is blackmailing innocent people. Even the Post Office, which otherwise is known to be free of corruption, has ignored necessary rules and regulations by granting him postal concession as a monthly paper even though it is registered as a weekly, which is against Postal  norms. 

 

Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) which has been fighting for safeguarding  the interests of Konkani artistes, has given a written complaint to the concerned officials in this regard in March last. But so far there has been no action against John Monis and he continues to indulge in character assassination and blackmail of innocents. He has even lodged false police complaints against those who are asking the repayment of the loans taken from them. 

 

As you are aware, most of us are working in the media working with the singular objective of dreaming a healthy and vibrant society. Whatever little saving we had kept aside for our old age from our hard earned money, was loaned to John Monis in good faith. Now we have lost that money and are left with no other option but to request you to help us to come out of the mess we find ourselves in.    

 

Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) has decided to take up the cause of Konkani writers and artistes who are depressed, having lost their life’s savings to the deceit of this man. KWAA has formed a joint action committee  to fight for the cause of writers and artistes till they get their money back. Those who are cheated by the smooth talk of John Monis and have given their money but failed to recover, can get in touch with KWAA President Ronald Sequeira on mobile 94484 85377 or Secretary Florine Roche on mobile 98808 10329.