Properties belonging to TN-based Christian evangelist Paul Dhinkaran who runs the Christian missionary meetings Jesus Calls have been raided by the IT (Income Tax) Department. As per available information, 28 properties across TN (Tamil Nadu) belonging to Dhinkaran including Karunya University are simultaneously being raided by officials of the IT department.
The raids which began early today morning simultaneously at various locations belonging to Dhinkaran are currently underway. Properties of Dhinkaran in Chennai, Coimbatore, and several other places in TN are being searched by IT officials. The raids were undertaken on the basis of complaints received by the department against Dhinakaran and Jesus Calls for tax evasion as well as foreign fund irregulations.
Dhinkaran runs Christian prayer meetings known as Jesus Calls which was started by his father DGS Dhinakaran. Earlier his parents Stella and DGS Dhinakaran ran the missionary which had now passed into the hands of Dhinakaran and his wife.
Dhinkaran is one of the wealthiest evangelists with an estimated net worth in excess of INR 5000 crores ($700 million). Apart from Karunya University and Jesus Calls, he also runs the evangelical television channel Rainbow TV. Dhinkaran also has close ties with DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) headed by Stalin.
‘Jesus Call' பால் தினகரனுக்கு சொந்தமான தமிழகம் முழுவதும் 28 இடங்களில் இடங்களில் வருமான வரித்துறையினர் சோதனை.
வருடம் 1000கோடிக்கு மேல் மதம் மாற்றம் செய்ய நிதி வருகிறது. இது ஒரு முதலீடே இல்லாத பெரிய பிசினஸ். இதில் திமுக அரசியல் ஆதரவு வேறு.
ஊடகம் ஏன் விவாதம் செய்வதில்லை?
— Maridhas🇮🇳 (@MaridhasAnswers) January 20, 2021
Dhinkaran was one among several Christian evangelists who had supported and ‘prayed’ for the victory of Congress-DMK alliance in the 2016 TN assembly elections. It has also come to light that Dhinakaran’s Jesus Calls is one of those Christian organizations that was granted land to build churches when Karunanidhi became the chief minister in 2006 and DMK’s ally Congress-led UPA was ruling at the centre.
Dhinakaran had even pitched for Congress-DMK during the 2019 Loksabha elections when he put out a video supporting Congress and stated that Rahul Gandhi’s rallies in the run-up to the elections in TN was going to be a ‘jolt’ to the NDA. The Daily Pioneer quoted evangelist Paul Dhinakaran as saying:
An evangelist, known for his pro-DMK stance said in his prayer meeting that the country would get the right Prime Minister, the right Ministers and the right Parliament after the elections.
“After these elections, God will intervene in the hearts of the members of parliament. God will intervene in the hearts of the leaders of the Government and they will listen to the God’s voice. I believe with Government’s order, God’s churches will be built across the nation. It is coming mow after these election,” said Paul Dhinakaran, head of the Jesus Calls Ministries in a widely circulated video.
He masquerades as a humanitarian and educationalist who wants to ‘solve human problems’ in the areas of food, water, health and technology as stated on his Facebook page. His website is full of fantastical claims of prayer fulfillment including the state of Rajasthan being blessed with rains following his prayers. Dhinakaran has erected number of ‘prayer towers’ across the country in the name of Jesus Calls ministries that he uses for evangelism and conversion activities.
Their website says they pray for people of all caste, creed, religion and nationality and are funded mostly by Bharatiyas, Sri Lankans and a few overseas Bharatiyas. Charges of tax evasion have been leveled against Dhinakaran following which his properties are being combed by IT officials
(Featured Image Source: Yahoo)
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