Prayagraj: The Prayagraj Police in Uttar Pradesh registered an FIR against Bishop Subodh Mondal of the Methodist Church, General Secretary Newton Parmar, Treasurer Michael Paul and Regional Secretary Ravi Paul for fraudulently taking money from Arshad Hussain for a land deal.
The FIR noted that then chairman of the Methodist Church of India Phillip Masheeh had agreed to sell a property (plot of land) to Hussain in Prayagraj. For the deal, Masheeh and other office bearers of the Methodist Church of India took 20 lakh rupees as advance from Hussain in February 2011.
When Hussain pressed them to take the remaining payment and register the property in his name, they delayed it on one pretext or the other.
In February last year, Phillip Masheeh contracted Covid-19 and eventually passed away.
Michael and Ravi Paul convinced Hussain that Phillip’s passing away won’t make any difference as the new chairman and office bearers will take care of the land deal.
The FIR further mentions that eventually Hussain got to know that the land for which Phillip had taken money do not belong to the church and the Methodist Church of India is not authorised to enter any kind of deal for the concerned plot of land.
When Hussain confronted the Methodist Church of India officials when these new facts, they tried to convince him that they would offer him another land in Lucknow. Not convinced with the new offer, Hussain demanded his money which he had paid as advance for the land deal.
Despite repeated reminders, Bishop Shubodh, Michael Paul, Ravi Paul and Newton Parmar did not return the money.
The police have booked Bishop Shubodh, Michael Paul, Ravi Paul and Newton Parmar under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating).
The Organiser tried to reach out to Bishop Shubodh and General Secretary Newton Parmar for a comment on the issue. They haven’t responded yet. The copy will be updated when they respond.
