CID seeks custody of CSI Bishop accused of fund misappropriation

The accused was first arrested by the CID officials back in January 2018 for interrogation, and was let free on bail.
Image of arrest used for representation.
Image of arrest used for representation.

VIJAYAWADA: Three days after the Church of South India (CSI) Bishop Govada Dyvasirvadam was arrested and produced in court for misappropriating church funds to the tune of hundreds of crores, Crime Investigation Department (CID) officials have reportedly sought permission of the local court to transfer him to their custody for further investigation.

Following the complaints filed by Director (Elect) of the CSI Trust Association (CSITA), Boddu Yohan, and other members, CID officials lodged a case under Sections 403, 406, 409, 420 and 477 (A) with 34 of IPC in 2017, and started investigating into the case.

During their investigation, officials found that there were irregularities in selling away of the CSITA’s land, misuse of deposits from the shop lease holders of the commercial complex which was constructed by the association in Suryaraopet, and misuse of foreign funds.

The accused was first arrested by the CID officials back in January 2018 for interrogation, and was let free on bail. However, in the same month, he approached the High Court claiming that a few people in the CSI panel had filed false cases against him. He also requested the court to stop the CID from investigating into the case. Justice M Satyanarayana Murthy had dismissed his petition and instructed the CID officials to proceed with their investigation. On Tuesday, a local court remanded him for a judicial custody till December 24. “Dyvasirvadam needs to be interrogated thoroughly based on the allegations levelled against him. Even the High Court observed that committing financial frauds and taking advantage of his position in CSITA was a serious offence. We are expecting the role of bigwigs in the church-funds scam,” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.

Names of Dyvasirvadam’s accomplices, GS Sudhir (his nephew), Gall Pramila Kumari, Rev. Ratnaraj, Dasari Christopher, Solomon, Rev, Advocate G Emmanuel and a few others were also mentioned in the complaint.“All suspects will be questioned in the due course of investigation,” the official said.

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