CHENNAI: After a sit-in of a little over 32 hours demanding the release of chief pastor, MK Sam Sundaram, from being forcibly confined by presiding pastor Caleb Joshua, members of the Apostolic Church Assembly (ACA) in Purasaiwalkam dispersed on Monday evening after a frail-looking Sundaram appeared on video and assured them that things were fine.
Express reported on Monday that ACA members had locked up the presiding pastor Caleb Joshua in a room within the church premises with members alleging that Joshua, entrusted with caring for the septuagenarian Sam Sundaram, was “administering heavy doses of medication and hastening his death” in a bid to gain control of the church’s purported `1,000 crore worth of assets.
Senior police officials, who arrived at the spot yesterday, failed to convince members to let Joshua go. Joshua is said to have negotiated his own release by promising to talk about the return of Sam Sundaram if the members let him go. Joshua was escorted to his home by the police. However, once home, Joshua allegedly refused to let the representatives of the members inside his home even as police officials stood watch, said sources. In the end, sources said, two of Joshua’s representatives brought out a video in which bed-ridden Sam Sundaram appeared and assured them that his life was not in danger.
Sundaram appealed for calm and spoke of his ill health due to old age that was preventing his participation in church activities. He assured the members that he will be on hand to meet the masses this Sunday.
Following this, members dispersed from the church although many were left unconvinced. Sources said that Sam Sundaram had not been taken to a hospital despite his condition worsening.
“We don’t know what to tell the members if he does not attend the worship this Sunday,” said a member privy to the negotiations between Joshua and the agitating camps.
Meanwhile, when Express contacted Vepery range police, they brushed off the incident as minor and said that no case was booked. “A Community Service Register [CSR] receipt, for non-cognizable offences, was issued,” said an officer.