Guntur – Govt issues demolition orders for illegal Calvary temple church
Vijayawada.
Andhra Pradesh Minority Welfare department has issued demolition orders for the “Calvary Temple Church” located in Namburu village, Pedakakani Mandal, Guntur District, after a series of serious allegations were raised. The demolition will proceed in accordance with the legal guidelines for structures operating without the necessary permissions.
A resident of Vasantharayapuram, Guntur, filed a formal complaint in November 2024, highlighting five significant allegations against the church. These allegations include the church’s alleged illegal operations, lack of required approvals from government bodies such as the Panchayat Raj, Revenue, Police Department, and the Noise Pollution Control Board.
The applicant also pointed out that the church, under the leadership of Pastor Rev. Dr. Satish Kumar of Hyderabad, has been collecting large sums of money in tithes without paying taxes. Furthermore, the church is accused of converting Hindus to Christianity by offering groceries to the poor and propagating false teachings.
Following the application, the matter was investigated, leading to the confirmation of the demolition orders, with appropriate action to be taken to demolish the illegal structure.
P. Satish Kumar is the founder and pastor of Calvary Temple, Hyderabad. He operates one of the largest churches in Asia, with more than 400,000 members and over 20,000 attendees at each service. The organization also runs Calvary Bible College, Calvary Hospital, and Calvary Schools.
He is highly influential in Andhra Pradesh, with significant national and international presence in Christian circles. He frequently visits South Korea, South Africa, and churches in the United States for his preaching activities.
In 2018, he also met the then-Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, who remarked, “Inspiring to meet with Dr. Satish Kumar – pastor of Calvary Temple Church in Hyderabad, India. We discussed the importance of protecting religious freedom with faith leaders including Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. John Ankerberg, Steve Green, Mart Green, and Dr. Jerry Johnson”.
Moreover, Calvary Temple is a habitual offender in violating laws of the land, often setting up new churches and encroaching lands through deceptive agreements.
By Kunti Surender
