New Delhi: The Kerala government informed the Supreme Court that no unlawful transactions has taken place in connection with the land deal of the Syro Malabar Church. The state government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court clearing Cardinal Mar George Alencherry of any wrongdoing.

In the affidavit, the government clarified that the decision to buy and sell the land was made after consultations and in accordance with the canon law applicable to Catholic churches and rules of the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly.

The affidavit was presented pursuing the petition filed by Cardinal Mar George Alencherry seeking cancellation of the case related to the land transaction. The affidavit stated the findings of the investigation report conducted by the Crime Branch of Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner of Police in the complaint filed by a person named Pappachan on the transaction.

The government told the Supreme Court that the complainant's allegation that there was no detailed discussion regarding the decision to take a loan to set up a medical college in Mattoor and the decision to sell the land to repay the loan was false.

Consultations were held in accordance with the canon law with three governing bodies of the church, including the Finance Council. The government also stated in the affidavit that the minutes of the discussions and consultations held in this regard were duly recorded.

The police investigation also found that the allegation of profiting from the sale of the Archeparchy’s land is baseless. According to the report, because the intended profit was not gained from the sale of the land, land purchases were made in Devikulam and Kottapadi. However, the opposition has falsely campaigned that this was a financial manoeuvre led by the Major Archbishop.

Convener of the commission of inquiry appointed by Mar George Alencherry, Father Benny Maramparambil, and five other members belonged to the opposite faction of Mar George Alencherry. The report of the Commission was handed over to the media to create a false propaganda before it was given to the appointing authority of the Commission and hence was rejected by the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly. The findings and conclusions in this report have no legal or factual standing.

The crime branch informed the court that the complaint and allegations raised by Pappachan is based on this false report.

Father Benny Maramparampil is also the third accused in the fake document case against Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and eight other Bishops. It was further asserted and stated that no crime under the Indian Penal Code could be found in the crime branch investigation.