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ED raids Kerala church diocese HQ in money-laundering probe
Multiple cases were registered against the diocese after allegations of it accepting huge amount of money from students in lieu of providing them seats at Somervell Memorial Medical College in Karakonam came to the fore. There were also allegations of money-laundering by church-run institutions.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday raided the head quarters of the Church of South India (CSI) diocese in Thiruvananthapuram among its other offices in connection with the medical seat corruption case and money-laundering allegations.
Multiple cases were registered against the diocese after allegations of it accepting huge amount of money from students in lieu of providing them seats at Somervell Memorial Medical College in Karakonam came to the fore. There were also allegations of money-laundering by church-run institutions.
The ED had conducted simultaneous raids at the office of bishop A Dhamaraj Rasalam, residence of church secretary T T Praveen, former director of medical college Dr Bennet Abraham and office of the medical college.
Two years ago, the Kerala high court had cancelled the acceptance of 11 MBBS students who got admission by submitting fake community certificates issued by the bishop. In 2019, the state admission fee regulatory committee also found that the college had accepted exorbitant fees from some NRI (Non-resident Indian) students.
Later, some students from Tamil Nadu had also filed a police complaint in 2020 alleging that a huge sum was taken by the college management for MBBS seats and that they were cheated. The CSI church was also in the news two months ago after its Thiruvananthapuram diocese was converted into a cathedral. Two groups, supporting and opposing the cathedral move had clashed with each other in April this year but were later dispersed by the police.
A spokesman of the church blamed a section of believers for mounting “frivolous cases” against the bishop and others. “We are co-operating well with all agencies. We will come out clean,” said spokesman C R Godwin. The raid which started in the morning continued till late evening.
Former director Dr Bennet Abraham was also the CPI candidate against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram constituency for 2014 elections but he finished third. There was a big controversy in the CPI that the seat was given to him in exchange for a big amount. Later, the party had expelled many district-level leaders.
