Bishop accused of embezzlement, Bangalore police investigate

The Karnataka high court has ordered the police to complete investigations into alleged embezzlement charges against S Vasanth Kumar, Bishop and moderator of Karnataka Central Diocese, within two months.

Earlier, in April this year, a member of the Church of South India (CSI), Sounder Raj, of Kolar Gold Fields, filed a complaint against Bishop Vasanth Kumar before the 4th Additional Metropolitan Magistrate court, alleging the bishop embezzled church funds.
Based on this complaint, the Cubbon Park police registered an FIR against the bishop, his wife Nirmala Vasanth Kumar, their daughter Aparna, and the bishop’s personal assistant, Patricia Job.

Although the complaint was registered by the Cubbon Park police on April 30, there were investigations into the allegations, said the High Court petition. According to the complaint, the bishop and his wife had been operating through their private account in Vijaya Bank, Residency Road. They were transferring diocese funds into their personal account since April 2002. The funds pertain to Bishop Cotton Girls’ School and Bishop Cotton Boys’ School.

Besides, the money spent through a credit card — held by Aparna — is attached to the account, the petition alleged.

Raj accused the bishop and his wife of falsifying accounts pertaining to the Karnataka Central Diocese. It alleged the entire fund transfer process was against the rules of the diocese constitution.

Though the complaint did not give the exact amount of embezzlement, it alleged that the amount exceeds several lakh of rupees.