IT Dept directs Archdiocese to remit ₹3.50 cr, citing 'capital gains'

Church sources said that they are not at all aware of any undisclosed money involved in the transactions

Close on the heels of the Income Tax Department directing the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of Syro-Malabar Church to remit ₹3.50 crore, citing capital gains the archdiocese made in land transactions, the Church has submitted an appeal before the IT Appellate Authority, seeking a relook at the directive. The assessment order dated July 6 sent by the department's Central Circle, says the sales proceeds in cash while selling land (totalling ₹3.06 acres) owned by the archdiocese in four places were used for purchasing alternative land in two other places. The church land was sold citing the need to repay a ₹58 crore bank loan. Detractors within the archdiocese have been saying that this loan was not repaid. They added that the church purchased land in two places, for which there is no document on the amount paid. They claimed the real land prices remained hidden and this amounted to I-T evasion.