In a significant move, the Madras High Court has ordered the demolition of a Catholic church and a towering 50-foot grotto that were illegally built on government land in Alwarpet, Chennai. Located along St. Mary’s Road, the court has given officials a 12-week deadline to carry out the demolition and take action against those responsible.
As per reports, the Madras High Court, on April 2, 2025, ordered the demolition of an illegally constructed Catholic Church and a 50-ft grotto on government poramboke land at St. Mary’s Road, Alwarpet, Chennai. But, unsurprisingly, the mainstream media has chosen silence—just as it has done with land encroachments by the Waqf Board and Christian missionaries across Bharat for years.
From marriage hall to monument of fraud
This was not just a one-off violation. It was a deliberate, systemic, and fraudulent misuse of religious authority under the nose of the state. The illegal structure was initially built as a 4,000 sq. ft. marriage hall between 1997 and 1999 without any approvals and was quietly converted into a church. In 2024, a massive 50-foot grotto was added—again, without a legal permit.
The expansion was not a spiritual act. It was a calculated encroachment, orchestrated by Pastor Antonyraj, builder Titus Thanga Primus, and the Parish Development Committee, who are now facing legal scrutiny. They even ran an illegal public lottery to raise funds, violating the Tamil Nadu Prize Scheme (Prohibition) Act. The money trail? Untraceable. No audit. No accountability. Just raw cash and silence, wrapped in the garb of religious service.
Even worse, when cornered, they forged documents—including a fake letter to the corporation—misusing the pastor’s seal while he was away. The court saw through the lies, naming Pastor Antonyraj and Titus as Respondents 10 and 11 in its demolition order. After years of inaction from authorities despite public complaints, it took the judiciary’s firm hand to bring justice.
The letter dated February 29, 2024, from the Our Lady of Visitation Church is not just a response—it is a blatant attempt to mislead authorities and cover up illegal encroachment on public land. Disguised as a humble explanation citing cyclone damage, the letter falsely claims the 50-ft illegal grotto was a minor structure built decades ago, lacking amenities and legal implications. However, the Madras High Court’s recent demolition order exposes this lie, clearly identifying the construction as unauthorized and deceitful. The fact that the letter was signed by individuals now named in the court order—including builder Titus Thanga Primus—makes it clear evidence of forgery, manipulation, and systemic abuse by the Church authorities.
Why is no one talking about this?
The same media that sensationalizes temple rituals or vilifies Hindu seers falls deafeningly silent when Christian missionaries or the Waqf Board engage in encroachment, document forgery, and voter manipulation. The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) had already filed a complaint in 2024 against Archbishop George Antonysamy for trying to influence voters along communal lines, a matter reported by the Organiser. This latest court verdict only validates those concerns of institutional abuse of power and land mafia tactics disguised as religious activity.
The illegal project was executed under the leadership of Pastor Antonyraj, builder Titus Thanga Primus, and members of the local Parish Committee. According to court submissions, they also organized a public lottery to fund the construction, in direct violation of the Tamil Nadu Prize Scheme (Prohibition) Act. No audits were conducted, and no public financial records were maintained, creating an opaque and unaccountable flow of funds.
In a further act of deception, the accused forged a letter—misusing the pastor’s seal during his absence—to falsely portray compliance to the Chennai Corporation. The court, however, exposed the forgery and upheld the law.
Photographic evidence has brought to light a group of individuals allegedly involved in the illegal construction and subsequent misuse of public land for building an unauthorized Catholic church and a massive 50-foot grotto. Among those identified in the first image are Mr. Titus Thanga Primus, Mr. Baskar, Mr. Ebineesh Santhuraj alias Ebenezer, and Mr. Sebastian—individuals who were reportedly instrumental in devising the plan, executing the construction, and running an illegal prize scheme. They are also accused of soliciting donations under false pretenses to finance the grotto’s development, thereby misleading the public while violating land and building laws.
The second image, taken inside the illegally constructed church, exposes the core development committee members who played central roles in the unauthorized activities. This group includes Mr. Titus Thanga Primus, Ms. Leema Rose, Pastor Jeyakumar, Pastor Antonyraj, Mr. Rajesh, and Ms. Gracy Ebineesh. These individuals now face serious legal and public scrutiny for unauthorized construction, financial misconduct, and the deliberate misrepresentation of their actions as legitimate religious activity. The Madras High Court, in its firm ruling, has emphasized that such exploitation of religious sentiment and encroachment on government land will not be tolerated, setting a clear precedent against such violations.
It is important to highlight that in 2024, the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) had already filed a formal complaint against Archbishop George Antonysamy, exposing how Christian missionaries attempted to influence voters along communal lines. Now, with the Madras High Court ordering the demolition of an illegally built church and a 50-foot grotto, the court’s verdict strongly reinforces growing concerns about the aggressive missionary expansionism and blatant disregard for law by certain pastors and church committees. This is not just about land encroachment—it is a pattern of systematic abuse of religious sentiment, manipulation of the poor, and open violation of Bharatiya laws, all in the name of faith.
Clearly, systemic land encroachment in Bharat has not been limited to the Waqf Board alone. The illegal activities by Christian missionary networks, like in the case of this church in Tamil Nadu, reveal a broader pattern of institutionalized encroachment operating under the guise of faith. The recent passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in Parliament is a solid and much-needed step toward reclaiming public and private lands wrongfully usurped over decades. This is not just a legal reform—it’s a wake-up call. It is time the same scrutiny is applied across the board. Lands belonging to Hindus, temples, mutts, and other Dharmic institutions must be protected. The state must no longer be a silent spectator when religious fronts manipulate the law and exploit constitutional freedoms to erode native heritage and ownership.
