Kochi, April 29, 2019: Police in Kerala have found that the bank documents produced as evidence against Cardinal George Alencherry in the church land sale case were forged.
The investigation team has also found out the cardinal has not held any bank accounts as mentioned in the documents.
“The investigation is going on and we have clarified with the bank also regarding the issue. It is found the cardinal has no such bank account used for transferring funds as alleged by the complainants. However, we are yet to find the source of the forged documents,” said Aluva Deputy Superintendent of Police K A Vidyadharan, who is investigating the case.
In connection with the case, the police had earlier recorded the statements of the cardinal and Father Joby Maprakavil, the executive director of Syro-Malabar Internet Mission
A case was registered by the Kochi Central Police in February following the complaint filed by Father Maprakavil against Bishop Jacob Manathodath, apostolic administrator of the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly and senior priest Father Paul Thelakat.
The case was later transferred to police station in Thrikkakara, a Kochi suburb. The complaint said the forged documents were produced to defame the cardinal before the Church’s synod.
Source: newindianexpress.com