John Robinson, Group Editor
Delhi/Mumbai , June 27, 2026
In the bustling corridors of Mumbai’s legal institutions and the quiet prayer halls of Methodist churches across India, a storm has been brewing for years. What was once a respected institution founded on the teachings of John Wesley and missionary zeal in the 19th century has become the epicenter of bitter internal strife, with accusations of “fake bishops,” financial opacity, and open defiance of judicial orders dominating conversations among its faithful. 
At the heart of the controversy stands Bishop N.L. Karkare and a small group of senior leaders. Born on June 4, 1948, Karkare was due for retirement years ago under the church’s own Book of Discipline. Yet, through a series of constitutional amendments, extensions, and what critics call procedural maneuvers, he and others have allegedly clung to power well beyond stipulated ages. Dissident members allege that retirement rules were conveniently rewritten from 60 to 65, and later efforts to push toward 70 allowing entrenched leadership to maintain control over vast properties and administrative decisions. 
Court records paint a picture of prolonged litigation. The Methodist Church in India has approached the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court multiple times. In April 2025, the Supreme Court directed a status quo in a key civil appeal, explicitly stating that decisions from a proposed General Conference should not be given effect until further orders. Despite this, reports indicate that disputed bishops proceeded with regional conferences in 2025 and 2026, installed office-bearers, and continued day-to-day governance actions labeled by opponents as contempt of court. 
One faction of church members has taken to social media groups, public petitions, and legal filings to highlight what they describe as a “corporate-political syndicate” masquerading as spiritual leadership. They claim valuable real estate, much of it donated or historically leased is being liquidated through Memorandums of Understanding signed without mandatory Charity Commissioner approvals under Section 36A of the Bombay Public Trusts Act. Allegations extend to under-reporting transaction values, with the differential allegedly siphoned off, drawing scrutiny from income tax authorities. 
Documents circulated by whistleblowers also point to irregularities in name changes of trust entities and the creation of multiple shell-like organizations, complicating oversight. Internal elections, conducted via ballot papers without neutral observers, are accused of being manipulated, with rules altered mid-process to favor incumbents. Dissent, according to these accounts, is met with harsh reprisals: pastors transferred to remote postings, salaries withheld, memberships canceled, and even personal obstacles in family matters. 
The Methodist Church in India, with its 12 regional conferences spanning from Mumbai to Kolkata and Bangalore to Bareilly, commands a significant footprint. Its properties, many unregistered under current names or still bearing the older “Southern Asia” designation, represent both spiritual heritage and substantial economic value. Founded in the 1850s, the church became fully Indian-led after independence, but today’s crisis threatens to erode the trust of its congregations. 
Defenders of the current leadership have remained relatively silent in public forums or framed the disputes as internal administrative matters being addressed through due process. However, the persistence of cases in the Supreme Court including appeals as recent as 2025 suggests the matter is far from resolved. 
As pressure mounts, affected members are escalating their campaign. Petitions have reportedly reached the Prime Minister’s Office, the Union Home Ministry, and the Maharashtra Chief Minister, demanding a comprehensive government inquiry and the appointment of an independent administrator by the Charity Commissioner. Plans for sustained protests, including chain hunger strikes, aim to keep the issue in the spotlight. 
This saga is not merely about retirement ages or election technicalities. It touches on deeper questions of accountability in religious trusts, the balance between autonomy and regulatory oversight, and the vulnerability of faith-based institutions to power consolidation. For thousands of ordinary Methodist worshippers in India many from humble backgrounds who view the church as a pillar of community and moral guidance the ongoing turmoil represents a profound crisis of faith and leadership.
As the courts deliberate and voices from within continue to rise, the future of the Methodist Church in India hangs in delicate balance. Will judicial intervention restore order, or will the institution’s internal machinery prevail? The coming months may prove decisive for one of India’s historic Christian denominations.
This report is based on court documents, public petitions, and statements from involved parties. The church leadership is yet to issue a comprehensive official response to the latest
allegationsDeepening Controversy Engulfs Methodist Church in India: Power Struggle, Property Allegations, and Defiance of Court Orders Spark Outrage
A fierce internal battle is tearing at the fabric of the Methodist Church in India (MCI), with escalating accusations that a group of bishops labeled by critics as “fake” or illegitimate leaders continue to run the institution in open violation of multiple court orders and the church’s own governing rules. What began as disputes over retirement ages and leadership transitions has snowballed into broader claims of financial impropriety, election rigging, and authoritarian control, leaving ordinary congregants divided and disillusioned. 
Core of the Leadership Row
Central to the storm is Bishop N.L. Karkare and associated senior clergy. Church records and petitions allege that Karkare crossed the mandatory retirement age years ago (originally set around 60-65 under the Book of Discipline). Despite this, critics say he and others retained power through controversial amendments pushed through internal processes. Opponents claim these changes were made without proper consultation, effectively extending tenures indefinitely until the next General Conference. 
Legal interventions have repeatedly attempted to address the impasse. In May 2025, the Bombay High Court issued interim orders in related appeals, but the Supreme Court of India stepped in, staying certain directions and mandating status quo. Petitioners argue that despite these clear judicial instructions, disputed leaders convened regional conferences in July 2025 and April 2026, elected office-bearers, and continued administrative functions acts described in court filings as potential contempt. 
Property Deals and Financial Allegations
Fueling public anger are claims that church assets worth crores are being disposed of irregularly. According to whistleblowers:
• Properties registered with the Mumbai Charity Commissioner require prior approval for sales under relevant trust laws.
• Leaders allegedly sign high-value MoUs first, leaving buyers to seek permissions later.
• Transaction values are reportedly under-declared in official records, with the balance allegedly diverted. 
These practices have reportedly attracted notices from tax authorities. Additionally, questions have been raised about name changes in trust documents, with some certificates allegedly showing manual alterations, and the proliferation of entities under varying names that complicate accountability.
Election Manipulation and Suppression Claims
The church’s democratic structure involving pastorate, regional, and general conferences every four years is under heavy scrutiny. Critics allege:
• Elections rely on internal ballot papers counted by interested parties without independent oversight.
• Rules are changed mid-stream to favor incumbents.
• Dissenters face retaliation: pastors transferred punitively, salaries withheld, memberships revoked, and social pressures applied to families. 
Many current leaders are said to have pending criminal cases, allegedly violating character requirements in the church’s bylaws.
Historical Context and Broader Impact
The Methodist Church arrived in India in the 1850s, growing into a network of 12 regional conferences with thousands of members. After independence, it transitioned to full Indian leadership. While internal disputes are not new, the current scale involving Supreme Court cases and public campaigns is unprecedented in recent decades. 
Affected members are no longer limiting their fight to ecclesiastical channels. They are approaching government authorities for intervention, seeking a formal inquiry and the appointment of a neutral administrator to safeguard properties and restore constitutional governance. Plans for awareness drives and protests underscore the urgency felt by reformers. 
Church authorities have maintained that matters are being handled internally and legally, but the volume of public complaints and ongoing litigation suggests deep divisions persist.
As India’s secular institutions grapple with regulating religious trusts amid growing transparency demands, the Methodist controversy serves as a high-profile test case. For believers, it raises painful questions about whether their spiritual home has been overtaken by worldly ambitions.
The Supreme Court and lower courts are expected to provide further hearings that could determine the leadership’s fate. Until then, the shadow of controversy continues to loom over pulpits and pews across the country.
