Church Property Sale Controversy: Member Challenges Undervaluation and Legal Authority

A church property in Agripada, popularly known as Bishop House, is embroiled in controversy after a member of the Methodist Church in India (MCI) challenged the validity of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed for its sale. The complainant, Manoj Bhore, assistant secretary of the executive board of the church, filed an intervention application before the charity commissioner, alleging that the MoU signed between NDW Facility Management LLP and the MCI’s executive board is invalid.

According to Bhore, Reverend Newton Parmar, secretary of the executive board, and Sandip Thakor, treasurer, who signed the MoU, are not trustees of the church and therefore have no legal authority to make decisions regarding the sale or submission of applications before the charity commissioner. Bhore’s application alleges that the property, measuring 1,377.78 square metres (City Survey No 1643, Plot No 30, Agripada), was grossly undervalued. Bhore claims that the undervaluation appears deliberate, intended to “facilitate a transaction detrimental to the interests of the church and its beneficiaries”.

Advocate Zeeshan Khan, representing Eifel Hi-Tech, the company that proposed to offer 50 per cent of its profit, stated, “It is alarming that Newton Parmar and certain others are attempting to dispose of a valuable trust property to NDW Facility Management at an undervalued price. My client has already submitted a mutually beneficial joint redevelopment proposal, under which the trust would retain 50 per cent ownership of the property and simultaneously generate rent and revenue from its share on a monthly basis.”

Khan further emphasized, “This proposal not only ensures the trust’s continued ownership but also creates a steady stream of income to support its charitable objectives. Any attempt to sell the property at a minimal rate would amount to a loss of public trust. The trust’s duty is to protect and enhance its property, not to part with it for short-term or questionable gains.”

Bhore also made a series of allegations against the church executives and the process followed in the proposed property transaction. According to him, the board was not convened prior to filing the application, and hence no valid resolution authorising the sale or approving the deal was ever passed. He alleged that no public notice or advertisement was issued in any prominent newspaper to invite bids or tenders for the sale – a violation of the principles of transparency and fair procedure that govern the disposal of trust properties.

In his plea, Bhore also pointed out that when the application for the sale was filed in 2024, the lease of the property had already expired. The lease, he said, was renewed only in 2025, making the application “premature, misleading, and based on incorrect legal status of the property at the time of filing”. He alleged that this material fact was knowingly suppressed by the applicants to push the deal through.

Bhore’s complaint noted that the rate approved in the application was not that of the highest bidder, raising suspicions of favouritism and collusion in the transaction. “As a result of these irregularities, the trust is suffering substantial and irreparable financial loss, which defeats the very object of the trust and goes against the interest of its beneficiaries,” the application stated.

Calling the entire process “tainted and unlawful”, Bhore urged the charity commissioner to order an investigation into the matter. “In the garb of selling the property, major scams are being carried out, and this is just one example,” Bhore told Mirror. “We are also in the process of filing a criminal complaint with the Economic Offences Wing. Meetings have already been held, and the agency has asked us to make a few changes to the draft application,” he added.

Bhore claimed that several members of the church trust have also written to the charity commissioner raising objections over the deal. A few private builders who submitted higher bids than the one selected have reportedly approached the charity Commissioner as well. Apart from Manoj Bhore, several other members of the church have filed an intervention application.

Queries sent to the NDW Facility Management via email remained unanswered. Similar queries sent to Rev Parmar and Thakor also remained unanswered even after 24 hours. Also, the hearing that took place Friday was adjourned till November 21, according to Adv Khan. Mirror also reached out to the charity commissioner but did not receive any response.