Kochi: In a clear sign that all is not well at the Syro-Malabar Roman Catholic Church, a complaint has been registered against Father Paul Thelakkat for producing a fake document to defame Cardinal George Alencherry at the Synod held at Mount St. Thomas in Kochi.
An FIR has been registered under the Sections 471, 468 and 34 of the IPC against Father Thelakkat on a complaint by the Executive Director of the Church’s internet mission, Father Joby Maprakavil.
Father Paul Thelakkat is a senior-most priest, former spokesman of the Church and Chief Editor of the English version of the Church magazine ‘Sathyadeepam’. He is also a well-known face in the cultural and political life of Kochi.
The case registered at Thrikkakara Police Station in Kochi accuses Father Paul Thelakkat of submitting fake bank statements of the Cardinal to the Synod held from January 7, 2019, to establish that the Cardinal was corrupt.
Interestingly, Father Paul Thelakkat, who has been advocating many reforms in the Church, attended the Synod on January 7 to complain that the Cardinal had diverted crores of rupees to certain industrialists.
Cardinal George Alencherry is also accused of having unaccounted dealings with certain big industrialists based in Ernakulam.