Man claiming to be ‘God’ vandalises church in Bengaluru, detained

According to the police, Mathew was under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly vandalised the church. The police also found packets of liquor in his room and said a medical test was conducted to assess his condition.

Mathew forcibly entered the St Pius X Church on Kamanahalli Road early Wednesday by breaking the door with a hammer, said the police. (Express Photo)

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A 29-year-old man who recently started claiming to be ‘God’ allegedly broke into a church in Bengaluru Wednesday and damaged several items. The police later detained the man, identified as Tom Mathew, a resident of Kamanahalli Road.

Mathew forcibly entered the St Pius X Church on Kamanahalli Road early Wednesday by breaking the door with a hammer, said the police. Officials added they received information about the incident from the church’s security guards and detained Mathew by 4.30 am.

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According to the police, Mathew was under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly vandalised the church. The police also found packets of liquor in his room and said a medical test was conducted to assess his condition. The results are pending.

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During their investigation, the police found that Mathew had been mentally disturbed over domestic issues. They added Mathew’s father had abandoned the family four years ago, which had affected him emotionally. According to police sources, Mathew was unemployed and had been displaying signs of mental instability for the past two years.

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His mother, who is a regular attendee of the St Pius X Church, told the police he used to claim he was God whenever she went to the church.

The police said Mathew’s family is from Kerala but has been living in Bengaluru for the past 30 years.

The Banaswadi police have registered a case against Mathew under sections 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult a religion), 427 (mischief causing damage), and 447 (criminal trespass) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The police said they are carrying out further investigation.

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