In an explosive email to the CEO of Don Bosco International Media Academy (DBIMA), a prominent alumnus of both Loyola College and Don Bosco institutions has accused the two Catholic-run organizations of academic fraud, ethical complicity, and a cover-up of sexual misconduct allegations tied to a so-called “Diploma in Filmmaking (AI), France.”
Joseph Kennedy, an alumnus of both Don Bosco and Loyola College, Chennai known for his 2022 exposé that led the University Grants Commission (UGC) to reject Loyola College’s application for university status, has once again taken aim at his alma mater — this time, over an unauthorized foreign diploma program being jointly promoted by Loyola College, Chennai and DBIMA Paris.
The filmmaking diploma is marketed as a “dual certification” course, allowing students to complete their final projects in France, with heavy promotion involving DBIMA’s own CEO, Fr. John Paul Swaminathan. However, according to an RTI response from the University of Madras, no such diploma program has ever been approved, rendering it illegal under Indian academic regulations.
“Loyola College, Chennai has a known and documented pattern of entering into foreign collaborations without regulatory approvals.” Kennedy stated, citing RTI documents and his own 41-page report submitted to the UGC titled, ‘Loyola College, Chennai is at a Dangerous Inflection Point and Granting University Status Will Be Extremely Suicidal for India as a Nation and the Christian Faithful’.
Jesuit-Salesian Partnership Under Fire
The controversy deepens with the involvement of actor John Vijay, who appears alongside Fr. John Paul, CEO – DBIMA in promotional videos for the program. John Vijay was publicly accused of multiple instances of sexual harassment during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018 and again in 2024. These allegations have been reported by mainstream platforms like Hindustan Times and India Today, are not unknown.
“For a faith-based institution to promote a man publicly accused of sexual harassment not only defies basic ethics — it dangerously signals tacit approval.” Kennedy wrote in his email.
This Isn’t a Protest — It’s a Rejection.
In the email, Kennedy makes it clear that he is not seeking a response, but instead issuing a formal dissociation from what he calls a morally bankrupt operation.
“If DBIMA chooses to persist in this alliance, it does so knowing it is legitimizing a program marred by regulatory violation and ethical rot,” he declared.
The letter comes at a time when Catholic institutions in India — particularly Jesuit-run ones — are facing increased scrutiny for alleged governance failures, clergy abuse cover-ups, and the exploitation of educational prestige for commercial gain.
Kennedy, whose recent refusal to judge LIBA’s flagship event Chrysalis 2025 in solidarity with abuse survivors made headlines, has once again positioned himself as a whistleblower from within the very institutions he once proudly represented.
Silence from DBIMA, Paris and Loyola
At the time of publication, neither DBIMA nor Loyola College has issued a response or clarification. However, sources within the University of Madras confirm that further regulatory action may follow if the program continues to operate in defiance of academic norms.
As the storm intensifies, one thing is clear: the battle for accountability in India’s elite Christian colleges is far from over — and insiders like Joseph Kennedy are no longer staying silent.
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