Kochi: The Kerala High Court on February 12 issued a notice to Cardinal George Alencherry in connection with the controversial land deal in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.

The High Court was acting on a petition filed by a Catholic, Joshy Varghese, pointing out that the police have not registered a case in connection with the land deal.

The High Court has also sought an explanation from the police.

Apart from Cardinal Alencherry, the High Court has sent the notice to three others also.

The petitioner alleges that the money belonging to the believers of the Church were lost through the land deal.

The case will be taken up again next week, the Mathrubhumi News reported.

A lower court had earlier dismissed a similar petition.

The cardinal is the head of the Syro-Malabar Church, one of the three rites that make the Catholic Church in India.