Mumbai News: Nagpada Church Leader Accused Of Running ₹2 Crore Ponzi Scam, Say Worshippers

The head of an independent Christian church based in Nagpada has been accused of duping devotees in a Ponzi scheme. Octavio Nevis, who calls himself the bishop of Jesus For All Nations Church, has been accused of stealing over Rs two crores, according to an FIR filed at Nagpada police station on April 28.

The complainant, Benjamin Ashade, has alleged that the Ponzi scam was run by a company known as Nevis Trading and Investment Consultancy Pvt Ltd, located at the Jesus For All Nations Church, Sophia Zubair Road. The police have registered a complaint under section 318(4) for cheating, 316(2) for criminal breach of trust, and 3(5) for common Intention under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) against Nevis and two other directors of the company, Joshua Nevis and Elijah Nevis. Bishop Nevis did not respond to calls and messages from this reporter for a comment on the case.

The complainant said that he deposited more than Rs one crore in a scheme by Nevis' company since November 2021, but has received no returns on the investment. He said that two other friends, who were worshippers at Nevis' church, together lost more than Rs one crore. He accused Nevis of 'taking advantage of him and his friends and unfairly betraying them of Rs 21475000'.

According to the online portal of the Jesus For All Nations Church, Nevis was born in a Catholic family and set up his church a decade ago. His organisation claims to have helped worshippers recover from disease and other problems. Nevis was caught up in a tussle with the Mumbai police in 2017 when he refused to bury the body of his 17-year-old son, who died of a disease. He claimed that the child would be resurrected soon, and the police had to intervene to force the family to bury the body.

The Christian Reform United People Association ( CRUPA), a community organisation, has warned the community about the scam. "The Society at large and the Christian community should be alert and beware of such scamsters," said church activist, advocate Cyril Dara of CRUPA.