Syro-Malabar Church forms panel to probe land scam

Kochi: The Syro-Malabar Church has  appointed a six-member commission to investigate the allegation that certain ‘officials’ of the Ernakulam – Angamaly Archdiocese had sold four plots of land at throwaway prices recently in what appears to be a major scandal.

Fr. Jimmy Poochakkatt, the Syro-Malabar spokesman, told DC that the Church had received complaints against the lack of transparency in the land deals done by the archdiocese, which was facing serious financial crisis. “Considering the seriousness of the allegations, an inquiry commission has been appointed as per the instruction of Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry.