KOCHI: Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate has directed the police to investigate Cardinal George and others in the controversial land deal involving Angamaly Archdiocese on a petition filed by Chowara native Pappachan.

There are 24 accused in the petition including George Alencherry, former finance officer Fr. Joshi Puthuva, Sebastian Vadakkumpadan and mediator Saju Varghese. Criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and fraudulent execution of a deed of transfer are the allegations in the petition.

The Judicial First Class Magistrate took a similar case against Cardinal George and others last day.

The Court order states the complainant had produced a copy of a deed of sale in connection with the sale of the property on October 31, 2016, in which the sale consideration was Rs 3.99 crore, and that the entire sale consideration had been received by the Cardinal (1st respondent) from Saju (the 3rd respondent) through the amount remitted by Saju in the bank account of the Archdiocese.

However, the account statement summoned by the complainant and produced by the present Procurator of the Archdiocese showed that on account of the aforesaid property, a sum of Rs 3, 99, 700 alone was remitted by Saju on October 28, 2016. The remaining amount was remitted by Saju into the account of the Archdiocese on various dates, starting from January 27, 2017 up to March 22, 2018.