Police have begun investigating a Catholic bishop accused of conspiring to sell off prime church property, causing financial loss to his diocese in southern India.
A lower court in Karnataka State asked police to investigate a charge of criminal breach of trust against Bishop Anthony Swamy Thomasappa of Chikmagalur and his former vicar general, Father Shantha Raj.
Officials of St Joseph Education Society, which functions under the diocese, have been complaining since April that the bishop and Father Raj conspired to take ownership of two plots of land worth 180 million rupees (US$2.4 million) and sold them off at a cheaper value.
