Conversion or illegal activities in name of religion will not be allowed in state, says CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Alvin M. Keeling
2 min read
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here on Thursday that the Economic Crimes Wing (EOW) would inquire whether the money received by the Church of North India (CNI) trust in Jabalpur was being used for any purpose conversion and illegal activities.
On Thursday an EOW team in Jabalpur carried out a search operation at the residence of a Bishop PC Singh who happens to be Chairman of the ‘Board of Education, Church of North India, Jabalpur diocese’ and found more than Rs 1.65 crore in cash plus a fleet of cars and documents related to other properties.
The search operation was carried out on the basis of a complaint filed by Father Hira Naval Masih.
On Friday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had a meeting with EOW officials as part of the search operation.
Later, speaking to the media, CM said that several irregularities were discovered during the search operation, such as the misuse of trust organizations, the creation of new institutions by changing the name, the illegal work on behalf of new institutions, irregularities in school fees and misuse of trust funds. for personal work.
In addition, he said, fraud in the renewal of trust institutions’ land lease, non-payment of taxes of more than Rs 7 crores has come to light.
In addition to this, he said, documents related to 17 properties, 48 bank accounts, cash amount of over Rs 1.65 crore, US$18,352, 118 pounds and 8 four-wheelers have were retrieved during the search operation. Fraud committed on a large scale has been revealed.
He said the investigation would be conducted at three levels – first,
The EOW and the district administration will investigate whether the money received based on the documents received during the tracing operation has been used for conversion or illegal activities.
Secondly, he said, if the land which was allocated to the trust and its institutions on lease by the government was used for commercial purposes and thirdly, EOW and the district administration would look into complaints about the tax evasion, stamp duty and fraud in the lease. renewal of institutions of trust and misappropriation of institutions by changing their names.
He said, “Illegal conversion or activities in the name of religion will not be permitted in the state.”
