• Around Rs 2.7 cr allegedly missing
• Cashier allegedly owns up
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 18
After weeks of speculation, a prominent church in Dimapur went public about an alleged case of missing fund in the church’s coffers. On August 18, the Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (DABA) made an announcement confirming detection of financial irregularity in its accounts during the weekly Sunday devotional service. The said irregularity was reportedly detected earlier this year, prompting an internal inquiry.
The pronouncement made in all the ‘fellowships’ or affiliate churches, under the DABA, stated what it said was a clarification on account of speculations on social media platforms and the subsequent controversy, painting the congregation in a poor light.
According to the statement, an inquiry committee instituted by the Board of Deacons discovered anomalies in the handling of church funds. The inquiry trail led to the church appointed cashier, who purportedly owned up, taking sole responsibility for the alleged fund misappropriation.
It did not reveal the amount of money allegedly misappropriated; only stating that the cashier and his family have assured to pay back the missing amount within a period of 3 months, or by September 30, 2024.
While the church did not officially disclose the amount, insiders familiar with the controversy informed that the missing money allegedly amounted to Rs 2.7 crore. Initially, the amount was tipped at around a little over Rs 3 crore, which was said to have been narrowed down following further scrutiny of available receipts.
The alleged financial mismanagement and the subsequent internal inquiry, while initially a tightly kept secret, leaked to become the talk of social media circles. It set speculations rolling of potential complicity, which however remain unsubstantiated. In the physical social circles, it remained a topic relegated to hushed tones.
