Indian Church's Ex-Secretary Illegally Sold Bhojpur Church Land, Misled Govt and High Court

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An ex-secretary of the Indian Church (IC) was accused of fraudulently selling the plot of Holy Saviour Church at Ara in Bhojpur district to 16 different persons. Johnson T. John was reportedly a con man who misused his power of attorney to illegally transfer several other church properties across the country.

It was noted by that John and Alfred Andrews, who claimed himself to be the Bishop of Methodist Church of India (MCI) and authority of the church land in Bhojpur, have misled even Patna high court and the state government for several years, according to Times of India.

Bishop John Augustine, Lucknow, has lodged an interlocutory petition before the high court of Patna in the summons filed by Andrews and John for annulling the FIR filed against them in the forgery case.

"John was once the secretary of Indian church. He was terminated on April 30, 2007 for disobedience and misconduct," said Bishop Augustine.

The Bhojpur church and its properties belong to the Indian Church under the Indian Church Act, 1927 and not of MCI, he noted.

"John has fraudulently sold other church properties in Agra, Dehradun, Lucknow and Delhi in the past and is evading arrest by the Economic Offences Unit of Delhi police," said Bishop Augustine.

He also said he will present the facts to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and seek his help.