Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu – Deceit by a Tirunelveli contractor, has led to the arrest of Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios, head of the Syro-Malankara diocese of Pathanamthitta, by the Tamil Nadu Police. Manuel George, the lessee of an acre of land owned by the Pathanamthitta diocese in the Ambasamudram in Tamil Nadu, had illegally smuggled sand from the adjacent Thamirabarani river.

The police filed a case against Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios and placed him on arrest as the diocese is the real owner of the stated property.

False accusations against the Bishop and the subject arrest has been spreading like wild fire throughout the Media.

Manuel George was contracted to cultivate the church land and has been doing so since the past 40 years. The Diocesan authorities were not able to visit the site for the past two years due to the ongoing Pandemic. Upon learning that Manuel George had breached the terms of the contract during this period, the diocese had initiated legal proceedings to detach him from the contract.

In addition to the Bishop, Vicar General Shaji Thomas Manikulam, priests George Samuel, Shaji Thomas, Jijo James and George Kavial were also detained by the police. They have since been remanded. The Bishop and the Vicar General were moved later on to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta has also issued a statement clarifying the facts regarding the arrest.

Bishop Samuel Mar Irenios, popularly known as the "Punya Charithran" is a revered, pious, and well - known figure in the Catholic Church.