How and Why Churches on Maharashtra Land Came Under Scrutiny

Maharashtra has ordered a statewide audit of church-owned land after an alleged Rs 300 crore Nashik fraud. Here's what prompted it.

By Pranjal Gupta

New Delhi, July 9: Across Maharashtra, the state government will run an audit of land owned by churches and Christian missionary organisations, examining its ownership and dealings post Independence. It comes following an alleged Rs 300 crore land fraud in Nashik, where investigators claim church-owned land was leased to government departments and sold to private parties over several decades using forged ownership documents.

While the alleged fraud originated in Nashik, the government has now expanded the exercise into a comprehensive review of church-owned land across Maharashtra. 

Here is a closer look at what the audit involves, why it has been ordered, and what is known about church land ownership in Maharashtra.

How much land do churches own in Maharashtra?

There is no official figure for the total amount of land owned by Christian institutions in Maharashtra or elsewhere in India. Unlike some religious organisations that hold property under a central governing body, churches in India own land through hundreds of separate legal entities.

The Maharashtra government has ordered a statewide audit of church and missionary-owned land following an alleged Rs 300 crore fraud in Nashik. (AI-Generated Image)

The Catholic Church, Protestant dioceses and independent Christian denominations typically hold land through individual dioceses, parishes, educational trusts, hospitals, charitable societies and other registered organisations. Each of these entities owns property in its own name under Indian law.

Many of these properties have been acquired over centuries. Some were purchased, while others were donated by private individuals. Certain land parcels were granted during the Portuguese administration in coastal Konkan or under British rule. Over time, additional properties were acquired for churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages and other welfare institutions.

According to the 2011 Census, Maharashtra has around 10.8 lakh Christians, accounting for 0.96 per cent of the state's population, stated a report by The Indian Express. The community is concentrated mainly in Mumbai,

Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Pune, Ahmednagar and parts of the Konkan region.

What prompted the government to order the audit?

The immediate trigger was an alleged land scam involving approximately six acres of land in Nashik, which police say legally belongs to the Nashik Diocesan Trust Association (NDTA).

According to the First Information Report (FIR), another organisation, the Nashik Diocesan Council (NDC), allegedly presented itself as the lawful owner of the land by relying on forged ownership documents. Investigators claim that the organisation subsequently leased parts of the property to government departments and sold portions to private parties over several

decades.

Police estimate the value of the alleged fraud at around Rs 300 crore.

The issue reached the Maharashtra Assembly after BJP MLA Devyani Pharande urged the government to investigate whether similar disputes involving church land existed elsewhere in the state.

Responding to the discussion, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced a statewide audit. He said the government would examine land records dating back to the British era, including transfers made after Independence and subsequent transactions. The entire exercise has been given a deadline of three months.

Why is the Nashik case considered unusual?

One reason the case has attracted particular attention is that the Maharashtra Police themselves are among the alleged victims.

According to investigators, the Nashik Police Commissionerate had occupied part of the disputed land under lease agreements since 1990. Although the Commissioner's office shifted to a different location in 2014, some police offices continue to function from parts of the property, added the report.

The FIR alleges that the government paid rent under lease agreements signed by individuals who did not have the legal authority to lease the land. This, police say, brought the alleged fraud directly to the attention of investigators and ultimately led to the registration of the criminal case.