Chennai News

Scandal Hits Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Chennai’s Vandalur With Allegations Of Misappropriation, Harassment, And Abuse

February 4, 2024
The Commune

In a startling turn of events members of the Southeast India Union of Seventh-day Adventists in Vandulur, Chennai, accused the church administration of widespread misappropriation, derogatory comments, sexual abuse, and more. They organized a protest in front of the church to voice their grievances.

Fundraising Controversy of the Church

The Seventh Day Adventist Church near Iraniyamman Temple, which boasts twenty-seven schools and properties worth crores, is now under scrutiny for alleged fundraising irregularities. Some members, including Swaminadhan, Anbu, and Selvakumar, staged a sit in protest (dharna) in front of the church, accusing the administration of deceptive practices related to construction projects like schools and churches.

Police Intervention and Tensions Rise

Upon learning of the situation, Officer Rangasamy of the Otteri police arrived at the scene and urged protestors to come to the police station for resolution instead of protesting there in a threatening manner. The protestors, asserting their right to question the administration about alleged misappropriation and cheating in crores over the years, expressed frustration as the church refused to provide an explanation and barred their entry by locking the gate. Amid a tense exchange, one protestor identified as an advocate was told by the police that if he wanted to practice law, he should do so in court, warning that even as an advocate, filing an FIR was not beyond consideration, emphasizing that disrupting the police on duty could lead to legal consequences.

Esther Rani’s Disturbing Allegations

Apart from the misappropriation of funds, allegations of sexual abuse and derogatory remarks about caste were raised against the church by Esther Rani. She reported being forced to stay until 6 o’clock in the evening despite other ladies leaving earlier, being burdened with additional tasks, and receiving 500 rupees from the manager, White David for no purpose. She worked as a cleaner for 8 years, and both White David and Daniel Devadoss allegedly harassed her, with inappropriate remarks and questioning about her personal life. The situation escalated to the point where they falsely accused her of theft, leading to her dismissal. Rani filed a complaint at the Kutuvancheri all-woman police station, expressing frustration over the demand for evidence of sexual abuse, which she found challenging to provide.

Church Response and Counter-Allegations

Father Jonardhan, responding to NewsTamil’s inquiry, disclosed Esther Rani’s marital history and claimed that her children’s education was funded by church members. Counter-allegations emerged, suggesting that a church member named Kennedy incited Swaminathan, Anbu, Selvakumar and Esther Rani to seek money from the church . CCTV footage exposed Kennedy’s confrontational conduct during the negotiations, involving the destruction of chairs and hurling water bottles. Protestors are now urging higher authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of misappropriation.

This unfolding controversy within the Seventh-day Adventist Church raises concerns about financial transparency, ethical conduct, and the safety of its members.

For the second time in Tamil Nadu, the church is under scrutiny, following the recent brutal killing of Xavier Kumar. The savage incident, unfolding in Eraniel, Kanyakumari, within a church father’s office, is allegedly tied to an inquiry into the church’s financial records, suggesting it as the primary motive for the heinous act.

Strikingly similar patterns of allegations regarding church finances and work suspensions can be observed in both cases. However, police involvement has been slow to materialize, even in the initial stages of the investigation.

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