Church of South India (CSI) illegally claimed ownership of land belonging to military. Defence Ministry files complaint.

It is alleged that Church of South India (CSI) Church administration has forcibly sold the land belonging to the Army to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation and Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board for Rs 60 crore. A complaint has been lodged on CSI Church administration to the police on behalf of the Ministry of Defense.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation is looking for land to set up the Vellara railway station in the suburbs of Nagavara in Bengaluru. The hotel and bakery that occupied the church's 3618 square meter area have been evacuated for the Metro Rail works. The church has been given a subsidy of Rs 60 crore for the Metro project.

But the land that the Church administration claims ownership belongs the Ministry of Defense. Survey documents have been submitted by the Ministry of Defense in this regard.

In the first week of July, a letter was sent to all the church clergy and the Bangalore Metro Real Corporation on behalf of the Karnataka Regional Protection Department. It stated that "The land that Church of South India claims ownership belongs to the Department of Defense. It was leased to church administrators in 1865, 1884, and 1898."

CSI is India's 2nd largest Christian church organization. In South India alone, the assets owned by the CSI Church are worth Rs 1 lakh crore. The organization has been receiving over Rs.1000 crore annually through donations from various organizations. CSI runs more than 5000 educational institutions in South India.