The Enforcement Directorate on Monday carried out raids at various premises of the Church of South India (CSI) South Kerala diocese in connection with allegations of money laundering and financial irregularities, even as the diocese dismissed the allegations as fake.
Raids were conducted at the diocese headquarters and office and residence of the Dr Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College director Bennet Abraham pertaining to the collection of capitation fees for the church-run medical college.
Bishop Dharmaraj Rasalam, head of the diocese, was also quizzed for several hours by the ED team at the diocese headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, sources told DH. The diocese secretary T T Praveen was reported to be absconding.
A church spokesperson said that the ongoing raids were based on fake allegations aimed at tarnishing the church, adding that the ED officials were convinced that there were no irregularities. He also said that the church secretary was not absconding.
Tense situations prevailed near the church headquarters as support of the bishop as well as those opposed to him shouted slogans against each other.
An earlier report of the state police report exonerating the bishop in the allegations pertaining to misappropriation of capitation fee was quashed by the court. Subsequently, the ED took over the investigation. Though ED earlier issued notice to the church officials for quizzing, they did not respond.
Published 25 July 2022, 04:31 IST