Tamil Nadu Crime Branch CID arrested head of the Syro-Malankara diocese of Pathanamthitta, bishop Samuel Mar Irenios, and five Catholic priests for alleged sand mining from Thamirabarani river, on Saturday.
The five priests who have been arrested are: Shaji Thomas, Jose Chamakala, George Samuel, Jijo James and Jose Kalayil.
According to media reports, bishop Irenios and Chamakala were admitted to the hospital as they fell ill soon after the arrest. The others have been remanded in judicial custody and are lodged in Nanguneri jail.
Another person, identified as Manuel George, was arrested earlier, in connection with the alleged sand mining.
Pathanamthitta diocese owns 300 acres of land near a check dam at Pottal in Tirunelveli district. The land was given for lease to George, who had acquired an illegal licence for collecting and processing stone, gravel, crusher dust and M-sand, reports New Indian Express. Large-scale illegal mining was taking place after George took the land for lease.
The land was inspected by the sub-collector, and according to a report submitted after the inspection, nearly 27,700 cubic feet of sand was mined. After the inspection, a fine of Rs 9.57 crore was imposed on the owners of the land, and a police officer was suspended for helping the accused.
Environmentalists and residents in the area had moved Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, pointing out the illegal mining was going on in the area. The court had, last year, asked the CB-CID to take over the case.
The church authorities, however, claimed innocence saying they used to cultivate coconut and gooseberry, but the land was later leased out to George. "But he committed malpractices without our knowledge and carried out sand mining in adjacent plots of land that don't have title deeds. The bishop and the priests were summoned for interrogation," TNIE quoted a priest as saying.