Supreme Court Halts Kerala Bishop's Money Laundering Trial Amid Appeal

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The Supreme Court has temporarily put on hold the trial of Bishop Dharmaraj Rasalam, the former head of the Church of South India's South Kerala Diocese, who is accused of money laundering in a medical college admissions scandal. The trial, which had been ongoing, has been suspended pending the Enforcement Directorate's response to the bishop's appeal. Bishop Rasalam is accused of collecting ₹7.225 crore from parents of prospective students in exchange for guaranteed admission to Dr Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College in Karakonam, Kerala. He has consistently denied the allegations, which involve a complex web of transactions and intermediaries within the college administration. The Supreme Court's decision comes after the Kerala High Court refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate's probe in March, citing sufficient evidence to warrant further investigation. The ED has alleged that at least 28 candidates or their parents were asked to pay large sums for admission, with some students never securing a spot despite paying hefty sums. The ED has also claimed that significant portions of the money were used for infrastructure development at the medical college and diverted to the South Kerala Diocese, with Bishop Rasalam's role in the transactions 'well-established.' The bishop's counsel has argued that the allegations are fabricated and that he was not involved in the day-to-day administration of the college. The case took a dramatic turn in July 2022, when the ED detained Bishop Rasalam at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as he attempted to leave the country. The federal agency has maintained that the case reflects a broader pattern of financial impropriety within the diocese. The Supreme Court's intervention has paused the trial, allowing the Enforcement Directorate to respond to the bishop's appeal.