The police have booked a parish priest under the Thamarassery diocese on the charges of cheating a parishioner with a fake diamond purchase deal.
Joseph Pamplani, the accused priest, was charged under section 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code.
Police said Fr. Pamplani, former vicar of St. Mary’s Church, Kattullamala, had allegedly secured around ₹87 lakh from a parishioner with an assurance to make him a partner in the sales of a diamond treasure worth ₹200 crore.
“The case was registered against him on the basis of a complaint filed by Abraham Thomas three months ago and the accused was found absconding after the incident,” said sub-inspector Sanalraj.
He said it was a non-bailable offence and there was also a similar cheating case against him at Kodenchery police station.
On Sunday, an action council of parishioners held a meeting at Pulloorampara and asked the Thamarassery diocese of the Syro Malabar Church to take disciplinary action against the accused priest.
The action council also alleged that the priest who was absconding after the incident was getting protection from mysterious sources.
