Bishop KP Yohannan, Believers Church in Kerala, will not appear before Income Tax Department in connection with the raids conducted at the headquarters of Believers Church and its firms. It is learned that the officials received an unofficial notification that KP Yohanan is abroad.
The Income Tax Department had summoned K P Yohannan for questioning on Monday. The notice has also asked him to hand over the documents of his foreign transactions.
The raid conducted earlier this month revealed blatant violation of the Foreign Exchange Control Act. The church received donations globally in the name of Gospel for Asia. Their trusts function in the name of Last Hour Ministry, Love India Ministry and Ayana Charitable Trust. The firms had conducted transactions in the names of these trusts.
Documents of nearly 30 paper trusts were also obtained. Apart from this, benami land transactions were also conducted in different parts of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. There are indications that the authorities will take steps to revoke the FCRI license after a detailed examination of the electronic documents and files seized from the institution. Documents and evidence found by the Income Tax Department may be handed over to other central investigation agencies.
The current investigation focuses on the six leaders who control the day-to-day affairs of the Believers Church. The move comes amid evidence of money laundering under the guise of various trusts under the church.
