Bail granted to bishop in Indian fraud case:

Bail granted to bishop in Indian fraud case: The Church of England Newspaper, June 2, 2013, p 6. June 6, 2013

Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Church of North India,Corruption. 
Tags: Diocese of Lucknow, Morris Edgar Dan

The Church of North India’s Bishop in Lucknow has been granted bail in connection with a criminal complaint for fraud.

On 24 May 2013 the Allahabad High Court granted the petition of the Rt. Rev. Morris Edgar Dan releasing him from the threat of imprisonment pending the outcome of two proceedings underway in Jhansi and Allahabad.

Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged with the police alleging criminal misconduct by the bishop and his associates. Under Indian law a FIR is the formal complaint filed by the victim with the police. A FIR sets the process of criminal justice in motion for only after the FIR is registered in a police station do the authorities take up the case.

The bishop is accused of selling land belonging to Christian Inter College in Jhansi city that had an appraised value of Rs 20o million for Rs 12.5 million. A bribe of Rs 60 million is alleged to have been paid to the bishop to facilitate the transaction.

The bishop has denied any wrongdoing and the case continues.