The Kerala High Court has granted bail to Adithya, a Kochi native and techie, who was arrested for allegedly faking documents related to financial transactions of Syro Malabar Catholic Church head Cardinal Mar George Alencherry.
Adithya was arrested last week as the third accused in the case. He had alleged earlier that he was tortured in police custody and was forced to accept the offence. The Ernakulam District Sessions Court gave Adithya bail on Wednesday on various conditions. As per the conditions, Adithya cannot meet first accused Father Paul Thalekkat and fourth accused Father Tony Kalukkaran. The court has also told Adithya not to enter the police station limits where both the priests are residing.
Though the prosecution had argued that bail should not be given to Adithya as it could affect evidence collection in the case, the court granted bail to the accused.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has sought options from both parties in the case on whether a mediator could step in. HC has asked both parties about their stand on bringing former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph to mediate in the case, according to reports.
The group supporting Cardinal Mar George Alencherry has reportedly said that they will only make a decision if a land deal case against the Cardinal is dropped. Alencherry is one of the accused in an alleged land scam involving Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of Syro Malabar Church.
The Ernakulam Archdiocese had sold a three-acre piece of land in Kochi in 2016 to repay its bank loan worth Rs 60 crore. The land, which was reported to be worth at least Rs 80 crore, was sold at Rs 27.30 crore. Following that, church head Alencherry was accused of alleged foul play in the land transaction.
The rift in the church came into the open after Alencherry filed the fake document case against Adithya and two other priests in Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese. Last Sunday, a circular criticising the Cardinal and Kerala police was read out in all churches under the Archdiocese.