The Kochi Central Police has filed a criminal case against Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the powerful Syro-Malabar church, in a controversial land deal on Monday. He has been accused of selling a piece of prime property for ‘a very low price’ causing losses to the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, of which he is the head as well. The Cardinal has been made the first accused in the case. Charges under sections 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy, 406 for criminal breach of trust and 415 for cheating under the Indian Penal Code have been filed in the case. Other accused in the case include Father Joshy Puthuva, Father Sebastian Vadakkumpadan and broker Saju Varghese.
The case was filed against Cardinal Alencherry following the orders of the Kerala High Court to the police. A single bench of Justice Kamal B Pasha had said that prima facie there is evidence to show that the Cardinal and the other priests have committed criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and cheating.

The Kochi Central Police has filed a criminal case against Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the powerful Syro-Malabar church, in a controversial land deal on Monday. He has been accused of selling a piece of prime property for ‘a very low price’ causing losses to the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, of which he is the head as well. The Cardinal has been made the first accused in the case. Charges under sections 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy, 406 for criminal breach of trust and 415 for cheating under the Indian Penal Code have been filed in the case. Other accused in the case include Father Joshy Puthuva, Father Sebastian Vadakkumpadan and broker Saju Varghese.
The case was filed against Cardinal Alencherry following the orders of the Kerala High Court to the police. A single bench of Justice Kamal B Pasha had said that prima facie there is evidence to show that the Cardinal and the other priests have committed criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and cheating.