By Matters India Reporter
Jalandhar, March 29, 2019: Officers of the Enforcement Directorate on March 29 arrested a prominent priest of Jalandhar diocese and three others for keeping unaccounted money, an Indian news agency tweeted.
Asian News International (ANI) identified the priest as Father Antony Madassery, director of Navjeevan (new life) Charitable Society, the social action arm of the diocese.
The priest is allegedly a close aide of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, who has been accused of rape by a nun, 
added. The bishop is currently out on bail.
The arrest took place after the directorate reportedly recovered unaccounted cash from the priest’s residence in Partappura near Jalandhar.
According to reports, Father Madassery has not produced any proof accounting for the seized cash.
Meanwhile dainikmail.com reported that more than 50 policemen raided the priest’s “palatial” residence and seized bags and licensed weapons.
The raid was conducted by a police team from Khanna, a city and a municipal council in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. They had reportedly kept their counterparts in Jalandhar in dark about the raid.
The Khanna police reportedly plan to address the media at 8 am on March 30.
Father Madassery is also superior general of Franciscan Missionaries of Jesus a diocesan religious congregation started by Bishop Mulakkal.
The 46-year-old priest holds several significant posts in the diocese.
He is one of the seven episcopal vicars of the diocese, a member of Episcopal Council, Curia, College of consulters, Financial Council, Presbyteral Council, diocesan board of education, Executive Committee of the Diocesan Board of Education, Building Committee (Sahodaya), and Board of Directors of Social Work Department.