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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 3:

Bishop Anandraj with the cars seized from him on the premises of CB-CID office in Chennai. Photo: M Srinivasan

        More skeletons are tumbling out of the cupboard of another disgraced bishop Anandraj as the CB-CID police have seized Rs 2 crore worth of properties from him and launched a hunt for his aide and his foster son.

        Speaking to reporters here today Superintendent of Police, CB-CID, Bavaneeshwari said, 'the special team of CB-CID has recovered Rs 2 worth of properties including land, three cars and Rs 7 lakh in cash from bishop Anandraj (45) of Villupuram. The accused had allegedly collected Rs 10 crore from 350 contractors, promising each of them contracts to build a minimum of 100 houses.

        Based on the complaint from one contractor K R Natesan of Madurai in August 2006, Anandraj was arrested by the police and later in September the case was transferred to CB-CID branch of Chennai city.

        The complaint was that the bishop had promised to give civil contract works to Natesan, a civil contractor, from whom they received bulk amount as earnest money deposit. As he was never given work, he demanded the return of the money. When the cheque which they had given bounced, he preferred a complaint. He had also told the contractors that they planned to build five lakh dwellings across the State with foreign aid, she said.

        Later following many other complaints from contractors in Chennai, Ramanathapuram ad Mahabalipuram 12 cases were registered against him. Besides effecting seizure of more property in the case the CB-CID launched a hunt for his aide Kishore and his foster son Suresh in connection with the offence.

        Apart from seizing three cars, the police have seized some documents from the bishop.

        Meanwhile it is also alleged that even cine artistes were arranged by contractors to woo the bishop, to get lucrative contracts. Actor Monsoor Ali Khan and Actor Murali are also said to have met the bishop twice.

        Investigations revealed that the bishop had also engaged agents to bring in contractors from Ramanathapuram, Nagercoil, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli. Whether they had any links with bishop Yobu Saravanan, who is wanted in connection with a similar charge, is being probed, an officer said.

        In bishop Yobu Saravanan's case the police further seized 10 lakh in cash and two cars. Following few other complaints from few others we are interrogating three persons including one Mahesh of Besant Nagar, Bhaskar of K K Nagar and Srinivasan of Valasaravakkam, Bavaneeshewari added.