Saturday, July 19, 2025
spot_img

Bishop, 16 others booked for selling church properties

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Prayagraj: A case of forgery has been registered against Church of North India (CNI) Bishop Peter Baldev and 16 others for allegedly selling church property worth Rs 10,000 crore in a case that could prove to be one of the biggest church scams in the country.
The case has been registered at Civil Lines police station here in Uttar Pradesh.
The accused have been charged with using fake documents to transfer properties belonging to Indian Church Trustees.
The complaint has been filed by Bishop John Augustine of the Lucknow Diocese of Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (CIPBC).
The complainant has said that in 1970, some Bishops of Church of India had constituted Church of North India Trust Association. Later, using fraudulent means, the post of Bishop of Calcutta was created.
“The same people in 1991, spread this fake organisation and transferred the properties belonging to Indian Church Trustees, worth Rs 1000 crore, to the Church of North India Trust Association,” the complainant said.
Those named in the complaint are Bishop Peter Baldev, P.C. Singh, P.P. Marandi, P.K. Samanto Roy, general secretary Alwin Masih, Jayant Agarwal, Pal Dupahre, P.P. Habil, Suresh Jacob, Rajiv Chand, A.R. Stephen, H.R. Mal, Marvin Masih, Prem Masih, Ashok Vishwas, Prabal Dutta and Shashi Prakash.
The transferred property includes church properties on Mahatma Gandhi Marg Lucknow and in Allahabad.
The accused have reportedly shared Rs 10,000 crore among themselves.
A senior police official in Allahabad said that the case has been registered and investigations have begun.
“The investigations will need time since the range is rather wide. If the allegations are found true, this could be one of the biggest church scams in recent years,” he said. (IANS)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Brazil’s ex-Prez Bolsonaro fitted with ankle monitor

Sao Paulo, July 18: Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor, a...

Christian leaders visit Gaza post Israeli strike on church

Deir al-Balah, July 18: Top church leaders visited Gaza on Friday after the Holy Family Catholic Church was...

Trump gets entangled in Epstein controversy via 2003 letter

WASHINGTON, July 18: The controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein escalated after The Wall Street Journal...

Druze-Bedouin clashes erupt after Syrian troop withdrawal

19Syrian government forces prepared to return to Sweida province Friday after renewed clashes between Druze militias and Sunni...