Church members belonging to the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church have complained that one of their bishop converted a Hindu woman to Christianity overnight and took a bribe of ₹34 lakh to appoint her as a teacher in the government-aided school run by the Church.
The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church runs more than 200 schools, 40 orphanages, hospitals and an art college spread throughout Tamil Nadu.
Daniel Jayaraj, the 13th Bishop of this Church allegedly continues to hold his position despite his term ending on March 5, 2020. He also illegally dissolved the Church council and has been accused of embezzling money to the tune of ₹6 crore from foreign countries. A case pending in the Church’s court in this regard. This Bishop has now been accused filling the posts of teacher and headmaster by receiving lakhs of rupees from various persons for the schools functioning under his jurisdiction.
An incident has come to light where a Hindu woman named Hemavathi was converted by the Bishop overnight and appointed as a teacher in the Christ Girls High School in Thanjavur after receiving ₹34 lakh as bribe from her.
Bishop Daniel Jayaraj had apparently fired the former headmaster of Christ Girls’ High School for asking about this. In place of him, Benjamin Jayaraj and one Anita Pramilapurani has been appointed by Daniel Jayaraj.
Members of the Church allege that he has appointed many people through such illegal methods. Despite complaints being filed with the Chief Education Officer in this regard no action has been taken. It has been alleged that even the CEO has been bribed ₹50,000 for such illegal appointments.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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