The body of Bishop Thomas Thennatt of Gwalior was on June 10 exhumed following a complaint from a Catholic woman who suspected foul play in his accidental death seven months ago.

“The police team took the body for medical examination and brought it back to the graveyard where it will be buried again,” Father Maria Stephen, the public relation officer of the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh, told Matters India.

“The body will be buried only after getting permission from the government authori-ties,” he added.

At the time of filing the report, the Church officials were waiting for permission from the government authorities for burial.

On May 11, Judicial Magistrate First Class Nidhi Neelesh Shrivastava, Pohari, district Shivpuri directed the police to investigate the circumstances that led to the prelate’ death and submit its report within a month.

The court order came following Dolly Theresa, a laywoman, approached the court saying she suspected foul play in the bishop’s death.

The woman alleged the diocesan authorities have restrained her from receiving Holy Communion from all churches in the diocese after she filed the petition.

“I had complained to the nuncio and the archbishop of Bhopal about the restriction imposed on me from the diocese, but to no avail,” she told Matters India.